26 JULY 1944
U S S PRAIRIE
DEAREST FAMILY,
I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE LETTER WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN CAMP, SO HERE IT IS. I'M NOT NOT SURE HOW LONG IT TAKES THIS TO GET TO YOU, BUT IN ANY CASE IF YOU LEFT CLEVELAND THE 1ST OF AUGUST THIS WOULD NEVER REACH YOU THERE.
HOW DOES THE OLD PLACE LOOK? HAVE THEY REPAIRED THE ~~MATTIAS CABIN OR DID THEY LEAVE IT AS IT WAS OR TEAR IT DOWN?~~ DOES IT LOOK AS IF YOU'LL HAVE GOOD OR BAD WEATHER? WHAT'S THE POPULATION, INDIANS INCLUDED? WHEN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS YOU'LL REALLY HAVE A SIZEABLE LETTER. ANYWAY WHEN YOU WRITE GIVE ALL THE DIRTY DOPE.
I'M STILL SLEEPING ON DECK, BUT AM NOT TOO SORRY ABOUT IT. IT IS SO WARM HERE THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS A HEAT RASH OR SOME KIND OF SKIN IRRITATION. IT IS COOL ENOUGH AT NIGHT BUT THE COMPARTMENTS GET NONE OF THE NIGHT BREEZES AND ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE THUS FORCEING ALMOST ALL THE MEN ON THE DECKS WHERE IT IS COOL. AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS I'VE FINALLY CAUGHT ON TO A SYSTEM OF KEEPING DRY WHEN IT RAINS SO NOW I ACTUALLY LIKE THE DECK AND AM COMFORTABLE RAIN OR NOT. SPEAKING OF THE NIGHTS, I MIGHT ADD THAT AROUND MIDNIGHT IT IS PRETTY COLD WITHOUT A BLANKET. I ONLY HAVE ONE BLANKET NOW SINCE SOMEONE STOLE MY OTHER ONE RIGHT FROM UNDER MY HEAD ONE NIGHT. I WAS SO TIRED I DIDN'T EVEN WAKE UP WHEN THE SCOUNDREL DID HIS WORK. AS LONG AS WE DON'T GO TO A COLD CLIMATE EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE, BUT IF WE EVER GO BACK TO NEWFOUNDLAND I'LL LITTERALLY FREEZE.
PAGE TWO (CONT)
DID DORA ENJOY GIRL SCOUT CAMP? CAN SHE COOK YET OR START A FIRE BY RUBBING TWO STICKS TOGETHER? (SHE CAN CARRY THE WATER AND LIGHT THE MORNING FIRE IN THE SHAQUE)
WELL, DEAR FAMILY, HAVE A GOOD TIME THIS YEAR BUT DON'T FORGET TO KEEP ME WELL INFORMED AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THINGS AND ALL THE IMPORTANT EVENTS. I'LL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR LETTERS AND WHEN I'M READING I'LL MAKE BELIEVE I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. ONCE AGAIN, HAVE A SWELL TIME AND IF YOU DON'T I'LL TAN YOUR HIDES. BE GOOD, AND CATCH LOTS OF FISH AND DO LOTS OF SWIMMIN'.
ALL MY LOVE,,
Bud [signature]
HARLAN SHIREY YENNE S2/C RM
USS PRAIRIE 4TH DIVISION
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
P. S. DADS LETTER OF THE SEVENTEENTH CAME JUST NOW. DOUG FEURGOSON IS RIGHT --- THE VERY LAST ONE
Handwritten Portion
26 July 1944
Dearest Family,
Well, I don't know if this letter will reach you or not in time for the trip to Canada but, nevertheless, I thought I'd write home once more to let you know, that everything is still fine with me.
I haven't had any mail from you for a while now, but will no doubt get some in a big bunch soon. Mary's letter of the 16th did arrive though, and I was surprised to read about all the marriages in Lakewood. After all these years of going together, it would indeed look queer if "Haggy" Jeunel and Glen Grossman didn't marry. So, though I was surprised to see that they had married I wasn't shocked. Another thing, I thought Jim Drummond was in the R.C.A.F.
Are Marg and Laines still friendly enemies or have things been patched up a little? Dora is going to have quite a summer. Two weeks of camping with the Girl Scouts and another month in good old Temag. After the Girl Scouts she can carry all the water and light the fire by rubbing two Indians together. Now we will have two expert firemakers in the Family. Dad and Dora both. Nevertheless, no matter who makes the fire, mother will be on hand with a bucket of water to make sure that the 'experts' don't slip up some place. I hope "Myrtle the turtle" can manage to get passage to Temag. She
[Page 2 of handwritten]
is certainly wild about that place - and has became a fixture that will surely leave an empty space if not there to swim frontwards backwards or to bake some of those super dishes. As I said in my last letter, let me in on everything that happens - You did a swell job last year.
Who will take care of Dynamite and Sailor while your away? I imagine 'Punkin' will find some way of smuggling them up to Canada. Up there Sailor will have more room to jump in the lake than in Grinny Collier's fish Pond.
I copied a little press last night and in one of my better moments deciphered that the Indians (Cleveland) were in fourth Place. The last I heard they were in eighth. My, that alone is heartening news. We get the ball scores regularly but the standings are sent only very few times. Detroit was right on their heels though.
I'm gonna sign off now - but first don't forget the pictures you said you'd send.
Lots of Love
[date notation: AUG 29 1945 (I HOPE)]
me [small sketch of himself]
Sailor McGook [sketch of sailor]
AFTER SO MUCH TIME ON A BIG SHIP IT WONT TAKE MUCH FOR ME TO GET SEA SICK IN A CANOE.
Cartoon Page 1: Temagami Scene
[Large illustration showing Island 672 with cabin labeled "ISLE 672" and "CASA NORTE"]
Scene 1 - Dad carrying firewood:
- Dad (labeled "DAD") shown huffing and puffing ("PUFF PUFF") carrying a huge pile of wood
- Arrow pointing "TO THE KITCHEN"
- "MOTHER'S VOICE" speech bubble: "HURRY WITH THAT WOOD AND WATER HARLAN"
- Small figure labeled "WATER BUCKET" with "ME!" next to it
Scene 2 - On the dock:
- Figure in canoe labeled "AUNT MYRT" saying "LOOK! NO HANDS"
- Dock shown
Scene 3 - Large fish exclaiming:
- Fish saying "OOH! OOH! OO OOOH!!!"
- Island labeled "672" visible
Scene 4 - Small sketches:
- Figure labeled "Sailor McGook" (Bud as sailor)
- Note: "AFTER SO MUCH TIME ON A BIG SHIP IT WONT TAKE MUCH FOR ME TO GET SEA SICK IN A CANOE"
Cartoon Page 2: Family Portraits
Scene 1 - Dad at the woodpile:
- "DAD" shown exhausted ("PUFF PUFF") with massive pile of "WOOD"
- Mother's voice from kitchen: "HURRY WITH THAT WOOD AND WATER HARLAN"
- Small water bucket figure with "ME!"
Scene 2 - Sailor the dog:
- Dog labeled "SAILOR" running/jumping
- Speech bubble: "HIYA FOLKS, DARN SILLY HUH!"
Scene 3 - Dinny the cat:
- Cat labeled "DINNY" (appears to be a turkey-like caricature)
Scene 4 - Bud ("ME"):
- Sailor in uniform with "U.S.S. PRAIRIE" cap
- Speech bubble: "WHAT SAY GUYS"
Scene 5 - Mary sunbathing:
- "MARY" lying on dock sunbathing
- Sun overhead, labeled items: "NAIL POLISH, LIP STICK, GOO ETC."
- Roasting like meat: "MEDIUM RARE OR WELL DONE"
Scene 6 - Tidi and Lonny:
- "TIDI" (in dress) holding leash attached to "LONNY" (in military/naval uniform)
- Tidi says: "IT TOOK 25 YEARS BUT I GOT HIM NOW"
- Lonny responds: "YES BELOVED"