16 August 1944
U.S.S. Prairie
Dearest Family,
I had quite a pleasant surprise yesterday. Tony Rondinelli my roommate in Chicago came over to see me. I almost passed out when he came up the ladder. We had a wonderful visit going back over Chicago days and exchanging comments on our few months out at sea. He's had some real experiences and seen some exciting duty. He was thrilled over the Prairie saying he'd trade duty anytime with me. I agreed that it was nice aboard but that he was only seeing the good things. Seeing Tony was a real morale booster. (He says I'm Ralph Fetter)
I've had a slight advancement in the Radio shack. I'm on a circuit now. It's a small thing, but a push in the right direction nevertheless. We are so overcrowded that any gain no matter how small, is hard to get and therefore greatly appreciated.
Any big fish yet? When are you folks going over to Eagle Rock? By the time you get this you may have already been and returned. With the weather as nice as you claim the sunbaths, canoeing etc. ought to really be top-notch affairs. Two nights ago I dreamt of Dad, Dora and me calling toward allgus Island and waiting for the echo. When it came Dora just fairly bubbled over with glee. I woke up and the sky was full of stars with the moon just coming up over the horizon. For an hour at least, I just lay watching the moon climb higher into the sky and all the millions of stars blinking crazily
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and imagined I was in front of the Shaque listening to the waves disturbing the rocks below the lookout. I almost had trouble convincing myself that I wasn't actually there. My imagination is a pretty big thing but it certainly is a nice thing. Things like Temag bury themselves in a guy's memories - even the time Tony went up a few years ago with the Macsweats (SP). Mary's and my craze for faded old guide badges and my lonely trips to quieter parts of the island where I'd spend hours with Ooshke lying on the rocks near the castle and tell him all the famous things I wanted to do. Ooshke listened to my weird imaginative tales and hopes but would never go away. I always figured he liked them. I don't know how many times he and I captured Hours end of the island. The year Aunt Fea and Barbara came up I began to think of things in a different reign. I lost the desire to track down enemies with Ooshke but I kept the imagination and I still have it.
I think I'll write to Veen now and keep the little lady from doubting my sincerity. The following poem probably fits this case better -
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the Sea
If he swears to unswerving devotion
My Bonnie lies — obviously.
Love to all
me
Bud
H. S. Yenne S 2/c RM