18 MAY 1944
USS PRAIRIE
SOUTH PACIFIC
DEAREST MARY,
YESTERDAY I GOT SIX LETTERS FROM HOME, THE FIRST LETTERS FROM THE FAMILY IN OVER A MONTH, AND BELIEVE ME I REALLY ENJOYED MYSELF READING THEM NOT ONLY ONCE BUT ABOUT FIVE TIMES EACH. SOME OF THEM WERE MAILED RATHER RECENTLY, AS LATE AS MAY TENTH. WHICH GOES TO SHOW THAT THE ONLY REALLY GOOD METHOD OF COMMUNICATION IS AIR MAIL. I GOT ONE LETTER FROM VEEN AND EDDY STRANG WROTE FROM KISKI.
THE SPOTLIGHT BAND JUST WENT OFF THE AIR. IT WAS WONDERFUL HEARING THE TERRIFIC MUSIC ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T GET THE NAME OF THE BAND. RIGHT NOW A NEWS COMMENTATOR IS ADVERTISING SOME TOOTH POWDER OR SOMETHING. THERE CERTAINLY IS AN ADVANTAGE IN BEING IN RADIO, ALTHOUGH ONCE IN A WHILE I WISH I HAD STUCK TO MUSIC.
DID YOU ENJOY YOUR TRIP TO GOSHEN INDIANA? SPRING OUGHT TO BE JUST ABOUT IN ITS GLORY NOW AND I CAN SMELL THE NEW LEAVES AND FLOWERS AND RAIN WITHOUT MUCH CONCENTRATION. BOY, HOW I USED TO HATE SPRING WHEN A KID. WHENEVER SPRING BEGAN TO APPEAR I COULD ALWAYS VISUALIZE THE LAWN MOWER AND ME PUSHING IT. THAT USED TO BE MY PET FEAR THE MINUTE I NOTICED THE GRASS TURNING GREEN AND THE SUN SHINING URGING THE DARN STUFF TO GROW FOR MY BENEFIT. TIME CHANGES THINGS, THOUGH, AND TODAY I'D RATHER PUSH THAT DOGGONE LAWN MOWER THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.
I OFTEN THINK OF THE SUMMER DAYS WHEN DICK VOSS AND I WOULD HOOK UP THE RADIO ON THE FRONT PORCH AND DRINK PEPSIES AND LISTEN TO THE BALL GAME WHILE SUPPOSEDLY CUTTIN THE LAWN. MOTHER ALWAYS USED TO HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GIVE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE HOURS TO THE GRASS CUTTING PROPOSITION. ALSO ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR I GOT THE SUDDEN URGE TO WASH CARS. AUNT JERRY'S IN PARTICULAR. HERS WAS EASY TO WASH BECAUSE IT WAS SO STREAMLINED. BUT OUR CAR WAS ALWAYS A TOUGH JOB TRYING TO GET BETWEEN THE SPARES ON THE SIDE. THEN, OF COURSE, I WASHED CHAMBERLAINS BECAUSE I LIKED TO TALK TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN ABOUT MOVIES AND CAMERAS ETC. SPRING NEVER STIRRED UP MUCH LOVE IN ME. I WAS TOO INTERESTED IN THE USUAL PROGRESS OF THE INDIANS TO FOOL AROUND WITH SUCH CRAZY STUFF. AT ANY RATE, I COULD RAVE ON AND ON AS I THINK OF THE SPRINGS OF YESTERYEAR. MEMORIES ARE WONDERFUL THINGS, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAVE A HEAD FULL OF HAPPY ONES.
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WELL, TO CONTINUE, THIS IS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND SINCE THE FIRST PAGE, I HAVE RECEIVED THIRTEEN MORE LETTERS. I KNEW THAT AS SOON AS MY MAIL CAUGHT UP WITH ME, I'D HAVE A LOT OF IT.
DAD'S TWENTYFIFTH ANNIVERSARY AT THE BANK WAS WELL DESERVED. BUT AS FAR AS THAT GOES, A GOLD WATCH OR ALL THE GOLD IN THE WORLD COULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE LOVE AND DEVOTION HE HAS SHOWN AS THE BEST FATHER IN THE WORLD.
I HOPE YOU ARE STANDING IN GOOD WITH YOUR BOSS AT THE BOMBER PLANT. PUT ON THAT OLD GLAMOUR AND YOU'LL HAVE A RAISE IN NO TIME. YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH BANGING EARS WITH THE BOSS HELPS. I OUGHT TO KNOW AFTER HAVING WATCHED SOME OF THESE GUYS IN THE NAVY.
YOUR PAPER CLIPPINGS ARE REALLY SWELL. I CAN GET THE BALL SCORES EASILY ENOUGH, BUT THE LITTLE DETAILS ARE THE THINGS THAT I MISS AND ARE DOUBLY APPRECIATED WHEN YOU SEND THEM. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE THE INDIANS STAND IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, THOUGH.
WELL, FOR NOW THIS WILL HAVE TO BE ALL. I GET OFF WATCH IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEREFORE HAVE TO LOSE MY TYPEWRITER. SO KEEP WRITING AND
LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL
Bud [handwritten signature]
HARLAN SHIREY YENNE JR. S2/C
U.S.S. PRAIRIE 4TH DIVISION
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANSISCO, CALIFORNIA.