War Games

USS Valley Forge, center, during exercises in the Atlantic, ca. 1959

March 30, 1954

Guantanamo, Cuba

Hi Honey, 

It's me again. How is the gal I love doing these days? Guess what!! It's still hot. In fact, it's very hot. And there is no indication of the weather getting any cooler. I have a real good sun tan on my face and arms, but I'm afraid I'll burn if I take my shirt off to sun the back.

We are having one "helluva" time down here. We left the States with twenty-eight planes. Now we have twenty-four left and only half of them will fly, if that many. Last night was an exciting evening. It started out with smooth water, clear skies and all that sort of stuff. We started launching at seven o'clock. The fourth plane to take off went into the water. We finally fished the guys out and then everything went O.K. 'til they started landing. That's when the fun began. The second plane hit the fence and our hot suit man was injured pulling the pilot out. Then one of the "best" flyers hit the fence and did a complete flip, landing on his back. One of the worst pile-ups I've ever seen. The plane was demolished, but the pilot wasn't hurt very bad. I finally got to bed about midnight. "Boy," one more night like that and I'll turn in my fireman boots.

If I can get them, I'll send you a couple of pictures of the crash. They should be worth looking at. Being shot at night will give them a more gruesome look. HA 

I'll sure be glad when this training cruise is over. I would prefer a combat cruise anytime. These people over here are teaching by the book, too, which the guys (like me) who made the Korean runs can't get used to. Before they always told us to respond as the situation demanded, but here there is a rule for all occasions. And a lot of the rules, I've never even heard of. "Oh, well," I suppose I can put up with it for two more weeks.

I guess that's enough of my gripes. Let's talk about something else. Are you still working for M.B.T. [Michigan Bell Telephone]? I haven't heard you mention them in so long I was beginning to wonder. 

Have you seen my sister and brother lately? Say "hi" for me when you do.

Honey, I gotta sign off now. I'm on watch and I'm not supposed to be writing.

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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The Pride of the Atlantic Fleet

March 28, 1954

Guantanamo, Cuba

USS Valley Forge, ca 1950

Hi Sweet Thing,

It's only the pride of the Atlantic fleet, so don't get excited. I should have written sooner but by now you have an idea of how busy we are. Maybe when this training cruise is over I can write more often.

I was glad to hear that Bob D_____ is out of it now. I know how glad I'll be to get out and it must go double for "brown baggers" (that's slang for married men). Just think, he didn't go in until after I did and is out already. Guess that goes to show us would-be-heroes don't make out.

And Pinnegar is getting married. I will be damned, but if the girl is the one I met, she is a nice kid. Tell him if he can get married, I'm gonna quit worrying. I know I still have a chance. HA Don't forget to tell him.

"Yes," very definitely I remember Oscar's. He served the best hamburgers in San Diego, but I didn't think  Bob T_____ would.

"No," I've never been to a Jewish wedding. In fact, I've only been to a couple of weddings in my life. I don't care to attend them. Weddings and funerals are the same to me. HA 

"No, doll," there isn't much chance for me to get home on a weekend and you are right about the wagging tongues. I wouldn't want you to be the brunt of that sort of gossip. And as for a place to stay, you would have to get a hotel room. I would like to see you, honey, but it won't be too long before I get out. Then we can be together all we like.

I can't think of anything else to write, so I'll sing off for this time. Answer real soon.

I love you,

Jim

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Symphony of Life

March 18, 1854

Guantanamo Cuba

Cover of a Dale Evans comic book, ca. 1954

Hi Honey,

I'll answer your letter I got today while I have time. We have been pretty busy the last week and it shows no signs of letting up.

I wish you had some of this hot weather in Detroit that we have here. "Boy," it's still miserable, but not as bad as it was.

I'm just sitting here thinking how silly this training we are doing here is. We play war all the time. We are doing in "make believe" here what we did in Japan and Korea (the real thing) and here they make us do it the hard way. Discipline for the sake of discipline, I suppose. "Oh, well," only four more weeks. I can stand it that long, especially if there is a chance of seeing you when it's over.

You asked how long we talked. It was ten minutes. Seemed like only 2 or 3 to me. 

So, Ginny S____made the grade, eh!! Good for Ginny. Looks like everyone is gonna be married pretty soon.

I've heard of the movie "Symphony of Life," but I've never seen it. I hear from reports it's pretty good. 

[Editor's note: There have been a couple of films entitled "Symphony of Life" and released prior to the date of this letter, but my money is on the one produced by Dale Evans, wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers. Norma was a big fan.]

Those two Banks boys you read about in the clipping are the same ones I know. Kendall is the one I pulled liberty with all the time. He was discharged last Friday. Charles is still here, He gets out just after I do. What is the name of your hometown? I'll see if they know where it is. They are from Whitesburg. They are brothers, in case the clipping didn't say.

"No," I haven't been sightseeing yet. I haven't had the time.

I gotta sign off now, doll. First "hop" goes out at 7:30 tomorrow, that means we get up at 5:30.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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Perfect For Honeymooning

March 14, 1954

Guantanamo, Cuba

Pirates of the Spanish Main – 1888 (Trading Cards) – Sir Henry Morgan

Hi Honey,

Honey, you should be where the apple of your eye is now. We are anchored in the bay off Cuba and it is nice right now. Earlier it was too hot (close to ninety) but now it's cooled off and really is swell.

There isn't much on the beach here but beauty. Ship board sailors can't go into town. They have a base here, but there is nothing on it but a beer hall and riding stables. I don't feel like riding a horse and in this weather, if I drank 4 cans of beer, I couldn't hit the ground if I feel out of a tree.

I played volley ball for a couple of hours this afternoon. I've been doing it every day to stay in shape. HA  I don't know what I'm staying in shape for, but maybe I'll need it some time. It doesn't take much exercise in this weather to lose weight. 

Hey gal, come to think of it, I haven't heard from you lately. How about writing once in a while.

I've just come to the conclusion that I'm not gonna like this place. We are going to operate just during the day and come in at night. I don't like that. I had rather stay out all the week and come in on weekends.

What are you doing this week? "Boy," if it's as nice there as it is here, you just can't stay home. "Boy," this is the kind of weather they write about. I do wish you & I were on vacation in a place like this. It's perfect for honeymooning. 

The guys on the air station here have a good life. They work from seven in the morning 'til noon and are off for the rest of the day. And their uniform is shorts without shirts. If I thought there was any chance of getting it, I would put in for shore duty here.

Have the amusement parks opened yet? "No," I don't suppose they have. It's a little early yet for them.

I see a boat out there that looks like a plane in the water. 

"Boy," what I wouldn't give for a boat. This is a perfect day for "cruising down the river." The water is green and real calm. I guess this must be the Caribbean Sea. I don't think there is anyplace in the Atlantic that the water is this smooth. On the way down here, we passed the Bahama Islands.  One of them (San Salvador) is the first place Christopher Columbus hit when he found this place. I think it's in the West Indies. Also, Sir Henry Morgan, the English pirate, used to be top dog in this part, if you are interested in history.

Sweetheart, I hope I'm not boring you with this stuff, but I feel like writing and I can't think of anything else to say.

I heard a joke I'll pass along. This girl had just got a job with a candy company passing out free sample boxes. On her way home the second day, she met a casual friend. The friend said, "Oh, Agnes, I hear you are getting married next month." Aggie said, "Yes." The friend asked, "And what are you doing in the meantime?" The sweet you thing replied, "Oh, nothing much. Just passing out free samples." 

Well, darling, I better sign off and get this in the mail. 

Answer soon.

I love you a lot,

Jim

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Somewhere Near Cuba

March 11, 1954

Somewhere near Cuba

Gitmo, circa 1954

Hi Sweet thing,

How's the world treating the one I love?

I should have answered your letter sooner, but we have been at sea all the time so you wouldn't have gotten it any sooner. And we have been working pretty hard with this new air group.

Today is the first day we didn't fly. I played volleyball all afternoon and I'm pooped out. 

We had a nice fire yesterday. One [plane] piled up and caught fire but no one was hurt and the day before a plane hit the drink just off the ship but the "copter" fished out all three of the crew, so I guess we have been pretty lucky after all.

Honey, the weather sure is nice here, especially at night, real cool, just right for sleeping. Wish you were here to help me enjoy it. Maybe someday if we get a vacation, we could come down here for a couple of days. But not to where we are going, our port will be Guantanamo Bay, which is no good. But they say Havana is a nice town. I don't know for sure about Havana. There's always a good chance of getting killed in a revolt in that place. And I can think of better ways to die. 

[Editor's note: Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution began in July, 1953, only eight months before Jim wrote this letter and Castro's success was not a forgone conclusion by any means.]

Gosh, doll, we were discussing my going to Europe. I don't know if we will go or not. When I find out, I'll let you know. Either way, I would like to see you before we shove off again. And if you can come out here (and I know you can), please do. You will only be able to stay for a couple or three days, but that would be better than not seeing you at all.

Well, gal, I gotta sign off for this time. Answer real soon. 

Your loving seaman,

Jim

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The View From Providence

[Editor's note: Jim's envelope for this letter has the stamp turned upside down.]

March 1, 1954

Providence, R.I.

View aft across the flight deck of the U.S. Navy anti-submarine carrier USS Valley Forge
(CVS-45), during exercise "Tarmac" in 1954. 

Hello Sweetheart,

Nothing new here. What's new with you?

I hope your thumb is O.K. by now, but you have got to learn to keep it out of strange places. HA  Seriously, I hope it isn't mashed up very bad.

I was over in town today. It's like all the other seaport towns and I I don't care too much for what I've seen. Although it is better than Norfolk, Va., but what isn't.

Honey, each month I get two copies of "Daily Meditations For Busy People" from the church. One is addressed to "Jim Parker" and the other to "James Parker." The only thing I can figure is that two different people must be sending them and neither knows what the other is doing. So, how about you squaring them away on the subject, O.K.? I would appreciate it.

So, Polly and Jack when to Tennessee, eh? I didn't know anything about it. Also, I'm very glad to hear Danny doesn't have rheumatic fever, but just what has the kid got?

We get underway tomorrow for Norfolk, but we have 28 planes aboard, so we will have something to do besides "dilly dally" around. Then, we go to Cuba. I'll be glad when that run is over. (Cuba, I mean.)

Doll, I may as well sign off. I can't think of anything else to write. Say hello to everybody for me and answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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