U. S. S. PRAIRIE
8 NOVEMBER 1945
DEAREST FAMILY-
THIS AFTERNOON I RECEIVED MOMS SWEET LONG LETTER AND ONE FROM MARY. IT WAS THE FIRST I HAD HEARD FROM THE FAMILY IN TWO WEEKS. IN FACT I HAD ONLY RECEIVED ONE LETTER FROM VEEN IN THAT TIME, SO FIGURED THAT THE MAIL SITUATION WAS CONFUSED AGAIN, WHICH HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN.
I JUST FINISHED READING THE ARTICLE IN THE 'POST' ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR. THE MAGAZINE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME, BUT TONIGHT WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY HAD A GOOD CHANCE TO SCAN THROUGH IT. UNFORTUNATELY SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN THE PACIFIC I HAVEN'T RUN ACROSS MANY CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS, AND HAVE HAD TO STUDY MOSTLY BY MYSELF, WHICH SOME TIMES IS OFTEN, AND OTHERS NOT SO MUCH DEPENDING ON THE WORK TO BE DONE AROUND THE SHIP. THERE ARE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SERVICES IN THE TOKYO AREA, BUT I KNOW IT WOULD BE USELESS FOR ME TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL BOAT TO GET TO THEM. THEREFORE I EITHER HAVE MY OWN PRIVATE LITTLE SESSION, OR ATTEND THE PROTESTANT GENERAL SERVICE. I DON'T CARE MUCH FOR THE LATTER, FOR ALL THE CHAPLAIN DOES IS REPEAT THINGS ONES MOTHER AND DAD HAVE ALWAYS SAID, TOUCHED UP WITH A LITTLE NAVY PROPAGANDA ABOUT OBEYING OFFICERS AND WORKING HARD. NOTHING IS GAINED FROM THAT I FEEL, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T OFTEN READ THE LESSON, I ALWAYS CARRY THOSE LITTLE BOOKLETS ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE WITH ME AND FIGURE I MUST HAVE READ EACH OF THEM SEVERAL TIMES. BY THAT I CAN SPEAK IN A FEW MINUTES EACH DAY WITHOUT DIFFICULTY, AND TOO WITHOUT CAUSING ANY SUSPICIONS FROM MY SHIPMATES IN THE CROWDED COMPARTMENT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID SUSPICIONS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
TODAY THE SHIP WAS ISSUED RIFLES AND BAYONETS (JAPANESE) AS SOUVENIRS OR THE WAR. I WAS GLAD TO GET MINE, BUT HAVEN'T ANY PLACE TO PUT THEM. THE POST OFFICE SAYS IT WILL TAKE SIX MONTHS TO SHIP THEM OUT OF THIS AREA, AND I HONESTLY HOPE THAT I'LL BE HOME BY THAT TIME. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SHIP TOOK FIFTEEN THOUSAND RIFLES ON BOARD TODAY, FOR THE PRAIRIE IS TO ACT AS DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE FLEET. THE BOAT DECK IS LOADED SIX FEET HIGH WITH THEM, AND ABOUT 24 TO 25 THOUSAND BAYONETS.
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I'M STILL TRYING TO GET SOME SUITABLE SOUVENIRS FOR MOM IN THE WAY OF TRAYS, OR LITTLE TABLES, BUT EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE, AND SOMEWHAT HARD TO FIND. MY NEXT LIBERTY I'M GOING TO TRY EXTRA HARD TO GET THEM. IN FACT, PLAN TO TAKE ABOUT 500 OR 750 YEN WITH ME, -OH- AND A CARTON OF CIGARETTES-WHICH ARE WORTH 400 OR THREE HUNDRED YEN. I HOPE AMERICA NEVER HAS INFLATION LIKE THINGS ARE HERE; THE BIG JAP BANKERS ARE AFRAID THEIR MONEY SYSTEM MIGHT FAIL, AND TRY TO BUY ONE AMERICAN DOLLAR SO BEVERLY AND VEN AND LOTS OF SAILORS CARRY GREAT BIG WADS OF YEN AND OFFER TO BUY VEN FOR A PACK OF CIGARETTES OR A BAR OF CANDY- IF THEY CANT BUY THEM OFF SAILORS OR GIS, EVERY ADULT CARRIES HIS MONEY AROUND IN A BAG OR SUITCASE.
WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR THE THANKSGIVING DINNER- IT OUGHT TO BE GOOD, FOR THE CHOW IS BEGINING TO GET WORSE NOW, JUST LIKE IT DID LAST YEAR BEFOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. IT IS ONE GOOD WAY OF MAKING US APPRECIATE THE 'HOLIDAY DINNER.'
YOU HOOSIERS OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF OLD N.U. SHE'S SIXTH IN NATIONAL FOOTBALL RATINGS. THIS SATURDAY SHOULD BE TELLING CAME THOUGH, AGAINST MINNESOTA. DID DAD GET TO SEE THE NAVY-IRISH GAME IN CLEVELAND?-I LISTENED TO IT OVER SHORT WAVE, AND COULDN'T HELP IMAGINING I WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE STADIUM WATCHING.
I HAD BETTER CLOSE SHOP FOR TONIGHT, BUT WILL WRITE AGAIN 'MAYBE TOMORROW IF SOMETHING INTERESTING POPS UP.
LOTS OF LOVE,
[Signature: "Bud" in handwriting]