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29 June 1944
Dearest Family,
Dads letter of the nineteenth arrived two days ago and in what I would call record time. Jukel Barnhart also sent a letter dated June 1st. It came via the slow three cent route.
My last week hasn't been very exciting as nothing of importance happened. I went on a beach party and had my first taste of dry land since coming out here a couple days ago. Yesterday I went with the ships band and helped out at a concert on another ship. You might call it a morale boosting concert - only the way our little band sounds it really takes good morale to sit and listen. Anyway it boosted the morale of our ship to have us gone awhile. Nevertheless, playing is still my favorite pastime and my best morale builder.
Veen wrote and told me about her vacation. Aunt Myrtle wrote and expressed her desire to go canoeing up in Temag when the war's over. She isn't the only one.
I'll be sending the first of my money
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home about 3 weeks from now. I'm waiting untill I get $200 saved and will then send it on to you. It's safe in the ships hands. But I'll never let it go beyond 200 dollars because if anything should happen, or the records get lost I'd be out that much. If it will help out in going to Temagami don't hesitate to use it - after all it's little enough I can do to show gratitude for other years I've spent at good old Temag. Otherwise just add it to the other money and let it build up.
Since having sold my watch I won't have any need to draw on my pay for a good many months. I figure that the thirty dollars I have left will last me six more months as I seldom spend more than 5 dollars a month. There's absolutely nothing to spend it on.
I noticed in Newsweek where some guy at Hiram College claimed Hiram was the first school, not Kiski, to use the new educational system. Silly, isn't it how people say nothing until someone else happens to cash in on it and then squawk to beat the band. Didn't someone we know go to Hiram - Jean Zitger or somebody like that? I'm not sure though.
Mary said Sailor was misbehaving. It must be inherited from someone. Anyway what sailor doesn't misbehave at something
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He must inherit his bad streaks from his little mistress. Incidentally - How does Dora divide her attention between Sailor and Sunny? I wish I could see some of the rows that the cat and dog have. I can see Dora trying to break up the scrap without showing favoritism to either the canine side or the cat side.
I hope my next letter is a little better than this sloppy affair - but this was just to keep the home front quiet and free from worry.
Lots of love
Bud
Harlan Shirey Yenne Jr.