7 JUNE 1944
U. S. S. PRAIRIE
SOMEWHERE
DEAREST FAMILY,
YESTERDAY I RECEIVED FROM YOU AND VEEN ABOUT SIX LETTERS RANGING FROM MAY 27 TO 31. UPON RECEIPT OF THEM, I REALIZED THAT I HADN'T WRITTEN FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT WAS HIGH TIME THAT I GOT BUSY AND DID SO.
NO DOUBT YOU AT HOME ARE AS INTERESTED IN THE RECENT INVASION OF FRANCE AS WE ARE OUT HERE. I WAS SURPRISED, THOUGH, HOW LITTLE EMOTION THE MEN DISPLAYED WHEN THE NEWS OF THE INVASION WAS ANNOUNCED TO THEM. THERE WERE NO WHOOPS OR YELPS OF GLEE, BUT JUST THE NATURAL ACCEPTANCE OF AN EVENT THAT WAS INEVITABLE IN HAPPENING. SINCE THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ALL THE RADIO GANG HAS BEEN KEEPING WELL INFORMED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE ALLIED ARMIES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A GOOD DEAL OF JAPANESE RADIO PROPAGANDA IN ENGLISH DIRECTED, I PRESUME, DIRECTLY AT AMERICAN FORCES AND IT IS INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO SOME GUY BEAT HIS GUMS HOW LOUSY THE ALLIES ARMIES ARE AND THEN PROCEED TO SPEAK OF THE AXIS SETBACKS. TODAY ONE SAID THE GERMANS WERE "WITHDRAWING ON THERE OWN". OF COURSE IT DOESN'T REQUIRE MUCH OF ONES OWN REASONING TO KNOW WHEN TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY WHEN ELEVEN THOUSAND PLANES ARE BOMBING HECK OUT YOU.
THE PICTURES YOU SENT OF THE FAMILY AND THE CHAMBERLAINS WERE GREAT AND HAVE AFFORDED ME WITH MANY PLEASANT MOMENTS. BACK IN THE STATES WHEN I SAW THE ADVERTISEMENTS TELLING HOW MUCH THE MEN OVERSEAS APPRECIATED THE PICTURES OF HOME, I DIDN'T QUITE REALIZE HOW TRUE THOSE STATEMENTS WERE. THE MEN WILL LOOK AT ANY PICTURES, PICTURES OF COMPLETE STRANGERS AND GET JUST AS MUCH THRILL OUT OF THEM AS IF THEY WERE PERSONAL DEAR. EVEN THE OLD STANDBY PICTURES, THE ONES ON THE DOORS, LOCKERS AND DESKS DON'T TAKE THE PLACE OF GENUINE PHOTOS OF THE HOME, FAMILY AND KIDS. PLEASE SEND MORE IF POSSIBLE AND THIS TIME TRY AND INCLUDE MOM. I HAVEN'T SEEN SAILOR YET EITHER.
I WAS SURELY PROUD TO READ ABOUT KISKI IN THAT ARTICLE IN NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE. OF COURSE IT WOULD TAKE A MIND LIKE THAT OF MONTY CLARK TO DIG UP SUCH AN EXPERIMENT. I HOPE IT IS A SUCCESS THOUGH. BUT I DO THINK THAT HE OUGHT TO LET THE STUDENTS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE EXPERIMENT, AND THOSE WHO DON'T CARE FOR THE PLAN CAN HAVE THE USUAL TRAINING. LOOKING AT THE DATE, JUST A YEAR AGO THIS COMING MONDAY I BEGAN MY FINAL SENIOR EXAMS. MONDAY BEING ENGLISH. I CRACKED OUT A FINAL TEST GRADE OF 93 IN THAT. I REMEMBER HOW DISSAPOINTED I WAS WHEN I GOT A NINETY ON MY HISTORY EXAM AND HE (MR DAWSON) WOULDN'T GIVE ME A BREAK ON MY FINAL MARK. I SHAN'T GO ANY FURTHER IN REGARDS TO CHEMISTRY AND TRIG.
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I HAD INTENDED TO GO TO THE GRADUATION THIS YEAR, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I TOLD FRANK BRANDON WHEN I GOT ON THE BUS TO COME HOME LAST YEAR. I'LL NEVER FORGET THOSE DAYS AT KISKI, NOR THE FELLOWS I MET AND BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH. I WAS ON THE VERGE OF RUNNING AWAY THE FIRST DAY I ARRIVED AT SCHOOL. I WAS ONE OF THE UNHAPPIEST GUYS IN THE WORLD. TWO YEARS LATER AS I ENTERED THE NAVY ALMOST TO THE DAY, I COULD LOOK UPON THOSE YEARS AT KISKI AS THE FONDEST AND MOST UNFORGETTABLE OF MY LIFE, AND THE HATRED I HAD AT FIRST FELT TOWARD MY PARENTS FOR PUTTING ME AWAY IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PRISSY PREP SCHOOL BECAME A DEEP DEVOTION TO THEIR JUDGEMENT.
MY WRIST WATCH IS ON THE BLINK AGAIN. I WAS OFFERED THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS FOR IT RECENTLY AND AS SOON AS I CAN GET THE DARN THING TO TICK FOR A FEW MINUTES I'M GOING TO SHOVE THE TIME ON THE POOR STARTLED FELLOW AND MAKE TEN BUCKS PROFIT ON THE SIDE. THAT FANCY LOOKING BAND SURELY MAKES THE WATCH APPEAR LIKE AN EXPENSIVE THING.
I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE INDIANS ARE IN LAST PLACE. EVERY TIME I SEE THE BALL SCORES THEY HAVE USUALLY WON. I GUESS THAT'S BECAUSE I ONLY LOOK AT THEM ABOUT EVERY THREE DAYS NOW.
MAYBE I MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS LETTER THAT I HAVE HAD MY SUBSCRIPTION TO THE SATURDAY EVENING POST CHANGED TO MY SEA ADDRESS. I DID THAT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T MUCH READING MATERIAL OUT HERE, AT LEAST NOT THE TYPE THAT I LIKE TOO WELL. BUT THEN IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO BE PATICULAR.
FOR NOW THIS WILL HAVE TO BE ALL ~~FOR TODAY~~ AND IN THE FUTURE I WILL TRY AND KEEP MY MAIL COMING AT REGULAR INTERVALS.
LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL,
Bud [handwritten signature]
HARLAN SHIREY YENNE JR. S2/C(RM)
USS PRAIRIE 4TH DIVISION
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANSISCO, CALIF.
Handwritten Postscript with Cartoon
[A hand-drawn cartoon shows a fierce-looking character labeled "Miya Mack Tai Chum" with horns or pointed ears, sharp teeth, and an angry expression. Next to it is a figure in a sailor's uniform with a grinning expression.]
Don't mind the typing nor the badly spelled words nor erratic grammar. The typewriter and I have just struck up the mutual regard for one another that helps in making typewritten letters readable.
H.Y.Y.
Read page 4-2.