9 September 1944
U.S.S. Prairie
Dearest Family,
As I expected my mail has come in big bunches the last couple of days. Yesterday and the day before netted me around ten letters from you, Veen, Mary and even Eddie Strang. Mary is sending me pictures of Canada and a few shots taken before the trip, only she is rationing them out one at a time. About a week ago I got a letter from Harriet Ann by Pony Express - the 3¢ variety.
Dad, I'm still striking for Radio. All rates in this particular branch have been frozen for a few months. If rates were open I could probably qualify easily enough. At present I am doing a rated man's job, but so are six other strikers who are caught in the freeze. I'm on a circuit now and share it with a 3rd class Radioman two hours every four hour watch. I haven't been playing with the band lately because the band, the object of ship's scorn, is now getting a lot of working parties.
I haven't seen Ralph's ship, mom, for a long time but if you want his letter back just let me know, I've still got it. I don't know, mom, just what chances of getting back near the states are. No one ever knows from one minute to the next what's going to happen. It might be a month or a year from now. There are always rumors running about with so many different versions it's almost impossible to get an inkling of what's up.
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I can hear much better now, thank you. I worked on the problem myself and have found little or no trouble anymore.
When you visited Northwoods camp, you probably noticed the island about a quarter of a mile away. That is where Gaines and I, with the rest of the Y, stayed during the summer of 1939. I lost a wallet and 90 cents Canadian money over there, at the time that was a blow. It rained quite a bit that year - my clothes were wet the entire two weeks. I also had "ring worm" and nobody knew what it was untill about the last two days. Then everyone was dead certain he'd pick up TB. After two weeks of sleeping, eating and fighting (good naturedly, of course) the last two days the fellows stayed away from me as if touching me was certain death. I couldn't figure it out. Mom had to boil my clothes after I went over to our place. What fun, such good times.
I hope Dora got a front set at school. I'll bet she's grown plenty in the last few months. Her pictures show it. I hope, too, that the purple heart wasn't won at too great an expense on the injured finger. I'm not quite sure the fishworm boat exactly resembles the Prairie, but I'll admit there are worms on here as well as there.
Before closing, who was all out fish champ this year? Did Aunt Myrtle learn to swim or did she boost the age limit to 65? Did mother actually go into the water - she'll do it one of these years - all the way. You too Pop -
Lots of Love,
Bud
H.S. Yenne RM S 2/c RM