30 ARRIL 1945
U S S PRAIRIE
DEAREST TIDI AND LOM,
YOUR LETTER OF 11 APRIL ARRIVED SAFELY THIS AFTERNOON, AND I CANT SEE HOW ELSE, NOTING THE SIZE OF THE ENVELOPE WHICH WAS PROTECTING IT. NEVERTHELESS IT WAS FUN LOOKING FOR THE LETTER, AND QUITE A THRILL WHEN I FOUND IT.
IT SEEMS AS IF YOU TWO ARE IN A PRETTY FANCY RACKET. THAT IS, GETTING THINGS CONTINUALY STOLLED FROM YOU. I WOULDN'T BE A BIT SURPRISED IF YOU WERE PULLING THOSE JOBS YOURSELVES AND TRYING TO MUSCLE IN ON SOME INSURANCE. YOU NEVER DID HEAR ABOUT THE BUICK DID YOU? WELL, I HOPE THE CULPRIT IS CAUGHT THIS TIME AND WITH THE GOODS. WERE THERE ANY NYLONS IN THE BUNCH OF CLOTHING THAT WAS TAKEN?
WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE SERVICEMEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE GLOBE, AND MY HUMBLE SELF, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION OF A PINT OF BLOOD. WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME TEAM, FIGHTING THE SAME WAR AND FOR LIKE INTERESTS, AND ANY DEED FROM ANY ONE OF US IS CERTAIN TO HASTEN THE FINAL GLORIOUS VICTORY OF HITLER, MUSSO, HIROHITO AND CO. (PURPLE HEART APPLICATION ENCLOSED) (I RATE ONE MYSELF FOR THE WELL FED AND HEALTHY RING WORM I AM SPORTING IN THE MOST INCONVENIENT SPOT).
I'VE BEEN DOING PLENTY OF READING THIS WEEK. IT SEEMS AS IF TWO MONTHS WORTH OF BACK LIFE AND POST MAGAZINES ARRIVED ALL AT ONCE. I HAD BEEN READING STUFF FROM THE SHIPS LIBRARY, BUT HAVE DISCONTINUED THAT IN FAVOR OF THE FOREMENTIONED. AMONG THOSE BOOKS, IF I HAVEN'T ALREADY SAID SO IN PREVIOUS LETTERS, WERE 'FAREWELL TO ARMS', 'OF MICE AND MEN' AND AN ARTIC EXPLORATION VOYAGE. I SOMETIMES WONDER WHERE THE WRITERS OF THESE MAGAZINE ARTICLES GET THEIR INFORMATION. ONE AUTHOR IN LIFE WROTE ON WHAT HE CLAIMED 'FIRST HAND INFORMATION' OF PACIFIC ATOLLS. HE PROBABLY SPENT AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS ON EACH ONE. ACCORDING TO HIM THESE LITTLE PLACES OUT HERE ARE REALLY AND TRULY PARADISES. AND EACH SINGLE ISLAND 'THE HEALTHIEST DAMN ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC'. OUTWARDLY THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL- THE OCEAN A DEEP CLEAR BLUE AND WHEN THE WAVES BREAK FORM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GREENISH COLOR. BUT THAT IS THE LIMIT.
MY ENTIRE OVERSEAS CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT AT ISLAND ATOLLS. I THINK I CAN SAY AND RECEIVE NO CRITICSM FROM ANY EXPERIENCED HAND, THAT THEY AINT WHAT THEY'RE CRACKED UP TO BE. ON MOST OF THEM, IF ONE CLIMBS A 15 FOOT MOUND HE CAN CLAIM HE'S BEEN TO THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE ISLAND. THE ATOLLS HAVE SO LITTLE TO OFFER THAT I'VE ONLY ACCEPTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ASHORE ON ONE TWICE SINCE LEAVING PEARL HARBOR. IT'S MUCH COOLER ABOARD SHIP WITH 100% LESS BUGS AND FLIES. ENOUGH OF THAT.
DID I EVER TELL YOU THAT MARTHA FETZERS FIANCEE VISITED ME ABOARD THE MIGHTY P? HE'S AN ENSIGN - A COMMUNICATION OFFICER AT THAT SO WE HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON. HE SEEMED TO LIKE THE PRAIRIE. HE HAD BEEN UP AT OKINAWA AND OFF IWO. INCEDENTALLY HIS SHIP IS A DESTROYER- THE FARRAGUT- NAMED AFTER THE ADMIRAL - YOU KNOW "DAMN THE TORPEDOES ETC." LIKE EVERYBODY HE DIDN'T CARE MUCH FOR THE PACIFIC. IT'S A LITTLE ROUGH ON A DD.
SAW A CLEVER LAUREL AND HARDY MOVIE THIS EVENING. AFTER IT WAS OVER CAME ON DECK AND WATCHED THE MOVIE ON THE CAN TIED ALONGSIDE- THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES. I GUESS I'M NOT THE ONLY SAILOR WHO LIKED IT. GUYS WERE SITTING ON THE RAILS, ON LADDERS GUN TURRETS ANY PLACE OF GOOD VANTAGE.
WELL, I BETTER SECURE (THAT'S NAVY-SALTY) THIS CAUSE I HAVE TO WRITE A BIRTHDAY LETTER TO VEEN. WRITE AGIN WHEN YOU FIND TIME.
AS PER, (LOTS OF LOVE)
BUD