She Must Think She Has Me Hooked

March 16, 1953

at sea, some more

Movie poster for "Elopement," ca. 1951

Hi Beautiful,

Honey, I just love you to pieces. You've written every day for the last 18 or 20 days. (I've forgotten which.) I love it, darling, keep it up.

And it's been three days since I've had a chance to write you. I'll try to answer all of them, but if I fail to answer a question you asked, have patience. I'll get it next time.

I wish I could get some more stationery. I'm getting tired of this, but it's all we have aboard the ship and we haven't been into port in 39 days. We are on our way to Hong Kong now, should be there about the 19th or 20th. I sure will be glad to get a rest. I wish I could get away from airplanes for about 20 years. In fact, I wish I never had to see another one. 

I don't think I'll go ashore as much in Hong Kong. I'll stay aboard and relax.

And day before yesterday, we lost another pilot. It just isn't worth it. 

I was just rereading some of your letters and wishing I could keep all of them but I don't have any place to put them. My locker is just barely large enough for my clothes and shaving gear. 

Look, little angel, if you will save your vacation or at least part of it 'til I come home, we will do anything you want to. If you want to go to N.Y., we'll go, or any place else. I should have 25 days at least and possibly 30, but I still don't know when I will get it. 

I've never heard the song "That's Me Without You" by Webb Pierce, but I'll bet it is pretty.

If I were home and Carl Smith was singing "Are You Teasing Me" and you didn't tickle my leg, I would spank your "stem shunt."

I went to the movie tonight but got to thinking of you and left to write you a letter. The movie was "Elopement" with Clifton Webb. 

My buddy Lash got a letter from his girl friend. She has bought her wedding dress. He said, and I quote, "She must think she has me hooked! HA. HA." And she pretty well has, too.

Well, sweet thing, I have to close and write my mother. 

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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22 Months And 8 Days To Go

March 3, 1953

Crash of a U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsair from fighter squadron VF-124,
Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) on the aircraft carrier
USS Oriskany (CVA-34) on 6 March 1953.

Hi Honey Doll, 

I'm back again. I wrote last night but I got three letters from you today and had better answer them while I have time because I have a feeling I won't have much time for anything the next few days. We are supposed to fly 125 sorties tomorrow and for a carrier, that's a lot.

I haven't done anything today, that is, since early this morning. I worked from 4 AM 'til 7 AM, then went back to bed, but for the next three days we will probably be flying 18 or 20 hours each day, so "Uncle Sam" will get even with me for sleeping all day.

If the present kind of weather keeps up, we can't fly tomorrow. I just looked outside and it is snowing like "hell." 

I hope your cold is better now, and as for my catching it by kissing you, I don't think there is any danger. If I can go through this type of weather without getting a cold, I'm sure I can kiss a sweet little girl without getting anything.

Happy birthday, darling, I hope you have many more and that I can spend some of them with you. 

[Editor's note: Norma's birthday was February 20.]

You must be drinking that wine like water. I could sure use a shot of it, O.K?

Speaking of dancing, I think I should warn you that I have to be pretty "tight" before I will get on the floor and most of the time I make a fool of myself, but still I like to try.

(Delayed)

March 6, 1953

Hi Kid,

I'm sorry I started this three days ago. I think before I expected the next three days to be rough, well, that's the understatement of the year. The only time we had was to eat and catch a couple of hours sleep once in a while. I repeat, I will be glad when this cruise is over.

A bomb went off on our partner carrier today, but no one was killed. A couple of guys got hurt a little, I think. It sure did cause a "hell" of a fire and tore the flight deck up pretty bad, so I hear.

[Editor's note: Jim seems to be describing an incident that occurred on the USS Oriskany on 6 March 1953. If that's the case, two crew members were killed and 13 others were injured.]

So, Johnny B______ is back in town, "eh?" I would like to see him. If I had gone into the army with him, I would be out now, instead of having twenty-two months and eight days to do.

By the way, the next time you see him, say "hello" for me.

Well, angel, I've got to close, or rather, "sign off."

Over and out.

Answer soon.

Love,

Jim

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When Heaven Is Silent

[Editor's Note: On the front of this envelope, Norma wrote the title of a book, "When Heaven Is Silent" by Ronald Dunn. 

January 3, 1953

KOREA

Vols v. Longhorns, '53.
It wasn't pretty.

Hi "honey," 

Since mail goes off tomorrow, I had better write while I have a chance. Please excuse the mistakes. I haven't slept very much in the last 48 hours so I'm having trouble keeping my hand steady. Today we have flown 98 sorties. That means 98 planes took off loaded with bombs. More than that took off but some were just photo planes and two didn't come back. 

Two days of combat flying and two planes gone. I guess that's pretty good, one plane per day.

A plane went in the water yesterday and the pilot was picked up by a helicopter. He was unconscious and couldn't be pulled inside the 'copter, so they left him to hang outside in a sling and flew him hanging outside ten miles to the ship. When we brought him aboard, there was ice on his hands and face, but he's O.K. now.

Still a little shocked, but otherwise alright.

[Editor's Note: The action report from the Valley Forge captain lists two planes that were abandoned after being shot down, both pilots were recovered.]

Excuse me while I get a cup of coffee. I've got to stay awake some way.

Tomorrow is refueling day. Maybe we can sleep a little. We operate over here with three carriers instead of two. I thought that would make it easier, but it doesn't.

That's enough about that stuff. How are things at home? You, in particular? I never thought "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" would ever make the hit parade. I can't stand the song. But I guess that's what I get for doing my own thinking.

Tonight is Friday night at home. What do you do on weekends now? I sure could go for some of Westwood's Ice Cream right now. 

Let's drive out for some, O.K.? 

I read about Tennessee losing to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. That almost broke my heart. HA 

Norma, I'm so tired, I can't think so I'll sign off.

Answer real soon.

Love,

Jim


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Don't Wait Up, Mama

September 16, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Michigan Central Station, in Detroit,
where Jim would have caught a train heading West

Hi Norma,

How's the kid?

I intended to write sooner, but as soon as I got back, we went out to sea for a week and as soon as we came back in, I transferred me to an atomic defense school. It only lasts one week, so I'll be back on the ship next Saturday.

It is real interesting. I would like to attend it for a couple of months. 

The next time I come home, I'll tell you all about the atom bomb. HA 

I was really tired from the train ride back, but I've almost recuperated now. And almost recuperated from those "heatings" you gave me, too.

Did your father come through his operation, O.K? I hope so.

[Editor's note: Norma's father, Clyde Cornett, had been diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent a successful colostomy, something that was rare when he had the surgery in 1952.] 

Last Thursday, we had a plane "pile up" and a real bad fire. One guy in my division was burned pretty bad getting the pilot out. They say he will be in the hospital from six to eight months. The pilot wasn't hurt very bad, just second degree burns on his face, but our boy had third degree burns from the waist down. The flesh was burned away and hanging loose from him body.

One of my buddies gets discharged tomorrow and we are going out to celebrate. So, "don't wait up, mama. I may be kinda late coming home." HA

Last Sunday, I went to my buddy's house for dinner. Afterwards, we wanted to go to Tijuana to see the bullfights, but his "old lady" wouldn't let us, so we wound up taking her bowling. 

That's married life for you. Not for me, I'm too young and inexperienced. 

Well, I've got to close. 

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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One Kiss Per Lesson

April 21, 1952

Lost at sea

Scan of Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi Norma,

It looks like I started writing at the wrong time. The "sea apes" (men in the gunnery department) just started firing their 5 inch guns. Practice, of course, at least I hope. And they really jar this tub.

Norm, this letter will probably be pretty short. I'm so tired I can hardly sit up. In the last 4 days we've had about 16 hours of sleep and its about to catch up with me.

This captain of ours must be trying to win the war by himself. And the help of his crew, of course. I wish we had another "old man," one with a little more sense. 

We lost another pilot yesterday. A lieutenant named "Les" Workman. His plane was shot up pretty bad and went down in Wonsan Harbor. He bailed out, but his "chute" didn't open. So, that was all "she" wrote, he was a good guy, too. 

I've been reading a little bit about the telephone strike, but I don't know much about it. 

[Editor's note: after graduating from high school, Norma worked as a stenographer for "The Phone Company," as ATT was known at the time.]

So, Charlene and Norma R_____ are getting married, "eh?" Well, if they don't know any better, I guess it's alright. Personally, I can't see why anyone would want to get married nowadays. 

It really is spring over here now. I'm down to one pair of pants. HA  Before long, I should be down to none. "Oops," shouldn't have said that. HA  

I don't know if my six easy lessons [for learning how to park a car] include homework or not. It depends on the pupil. Of course, pretty often we get to park and talk over your mistakes, if any. My fee is one kiss per lesson, but if you want to throw in a few "tips," that's alright, too.

Just hang on to those Patti Page and Doris Day records 'til I get home and I'll drive you "nuts" playing them so much. 

I want a wallet-size photo of you. If it's any bigger, I've got no place to keep it.

No, I wouldn't say that I'm bashful. Let's just say I'm a little shy around women. 

"Well," kid, I've got to sign off for now.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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The Cradle Of Charms

March 17, 1952

Somewhere in Korea

Detroit Parking Cop, outside the Michigan Theatre in 1952, as he tickets a car

Hi Norma,

Well, I haven't written to you in four days, but at least I'm not as tired as I was the last time I wrote, so maybe this one will be more sensible.

I got three letters from you last mail call day. I hope I do it again tomorrow. 

I should write to you more often than I do, but I'm so tired when we quit flying at night all I can do is shower and fall into bed.

The weather is getting better all the time. I don't have to wear but two pairs of pants, one shirt, one sweater and a foul weather jacket to keep warm. HA  You can imagine what I had to wear when it was cold.

Have my letters been sounding homesick lately? I'm sorry, I didn't mean for them to. When I start to feeling sorry for myself, I try to think that our pilots and the guys in the Army and Marines over on the beach are getting it a lot tougher than me, so maybe I'm not having it so bad after all.

I'm glad the Red Wings are in first place. I sure would like to see them play.

So, you finally got all the spaghetti? I'm glad. I guess you're not Italian after all.

When I come home, I'll show you how to park a car in six easy lessons. Of course, each lesson takes 2 or 3 days. 

Excuse the [spelling] mistakes, maybe I'm more tired than I thought I was.

How easy it is to park a car depends on where you want to park. Downtown isn't so easy, too many other cars in the way, but if you're parking in a lovers' lane or someplace like that, well, it isn't very hard at all. HA   At least that's what I've been told.

And if you'll give me a big enough kiss, I'll show you how to park in both places.

We got that record, "Little White Cloud That Cried" by Johnny Raye.  The song is O.K., but the singer "stinks." If it were by Patti Page or Doris Day, it would be pretty good. I've also heard "Any Time" and "Slow Poke." [Editor's note: these two songs were recorded by Helen O'Connell and both were on the Billboard Top Ten list for February, 1952.]

We also have "Give Me More Of Your Kisses," but it's by some "hillbilly" who can't sing at all.  [That would be Lefty Frizzell.]

Yes, I'll be able to vote, I think. We should be in the States on election day.

We had some bad luck today. The squadron commander of V.F. 111, a jet squadron, was killed today. He was a commander named Baslee, one of the nicest officers I've ever met. Everyone liked him, but when you're getting shot at, I suppose bullets don't respect anybody. It was an anti-aircraft battery that hit him. He knew he was hit so hard that his jet would never pull out of the dive, so he piled his plane up right on top of the gun that hit him with three bombs still on it. It don't suppose that gun emplacement will ever get anybody else.

But it hurts like "hell" to lose a guy like him.

[Click on this link for a declassified document from the commander of the USS Valley Forge, detailing events the ship encountered from March 3 - April 4, 1952 and describes the actions of Lt. Commander Baslee, who was awarded The Purple Heart posthumously.]

Norm, I started this last night and could have mailed it then if I could have finished it, but the "Reds" didn't want me to. About the time I started, some enemy planes started snooping around and we had to go up on deck just in case they came too close. But that's the trouble, they don't come within gun range. They just fly close enough for the radar to pick them up. That gets the captain all bothered, so he can't go down to his room and he thinks if he can't go rest that no one else should.

So, we stayed at a ready condition until 10:30 last night after getting up at 3:30 in the morning.

But enough of my worries. Let's talk about something better, like you, you Cradle of Charms. "Corny, eh?" I sure would like to see you, I'm about to forget what you look like. How about sending me a picture of yourself, one that I can pin up on my locker door, O.K? 

Well, Norm, I've got to sign off this time or pretty soon this will be a book.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim 

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The "L" Word

February 9, 1952

Saturday night

Vought F4U-4 Corsair fighters of U.S. Navy fighter squadrons VF-114 Executioners (V-4XX) on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) during the Korean War in 1951/52.

Hi Norma,

I just got your letter this morning and since this is the only chance I'll have to answer it anytime soon, I had better do it now.

I guess you haven't heard from me in more than a week because I haven't written. I've been too busy. If I have more days like the last, I will make plans for burning my I.D. card. "Boy," they have been miserable. Cold weather has been the least of our troubles. We've had crack-ups, lost planes in the drink, and had them shot down. It is getting to be too much. We've been on the flight deck from 16 to 20 hours each day for the last 4. To give you some idea of how we've been catching "hell," we've even had 3 helicopters shot down. But I suppose I can't kick. I'm still O.K. Just plenty lucky, I guess.

I sure will be glad when we go back into port. I can really use a rest.

"Yes," I like that song "I Can't Help It." Also, I haven't heard it since we left the States. The first time I heard it was in Vancouver, Canada last summer.

No; we haven't had any more storms "thank goodness." I think a storm would just about finish us all off.

I didn't tell you about the worst crack-up, did I? It was a real dilly.

A "Corsair" (light fighter-bomber) was taking off when his engine cut out. He tried to "ditch" it in the water, but it landed on a 5 inch gun mount on the side of the side. The plane had one 1000 pound bomb and 4 smaller ones and the gun was loaded. Then, the whole damn works caught fire. I didn't think of those bombs until everything was over. If I had, I might still be running, but we were lucky again. None of them went off. The pilot jumped over side and the helicopter picked him up. He was burned some, but not too bad. "Oh, well" that's enough of our grief.

That place where you work must have trouble keeping girls, but there is one thing for sure with all you girls there, they wouldn't have trouble keeping me.

Yes, I used to be a member of good standing at Gilead, but now I don't know. They may have disowned me. Yes, I got a package from the Y.P. [Young People's] Dept.

Sure, it's O.K. with me to put my name on the Grace Class if your mother wants to. I would feel honored.

Well, Norm, I better sign off now.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Jim Uses The "L" Word. As Only A Southern Boy Can

Dec. 31, 1951

Monday Evening

Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Hi Norma,

How's the cutest girl I know?

I'm fine, except this pen is driving me nuts.  It writes for awhile and then stops for a rest, I reckon. I called it all the bad names I know and some I didn't know and it still won't write.

When your last letter came I was on topside and after I read it, I started to put it in my pocket but a jet plane pilot started racing his motor and the blast blew it out of my hand over the side and I can't answer all of it.

It was cold last week over here, but the wind is what hurts.  When it is 20° above zero over here, the wind makes it as bad as 20° below back home.

Look, kid, I got a different pen, same difference, "eh?"  I think I sent you a picture.  It should get there around Christmas and don't get the idea that I don't love you, because you know I do.

I'll be glad when we go into port again.  I'm getting tired of water.  We've been out almost a month now.

Today is New Year's Eve, if I was home, I would probably throw a big "bender," even if we were in Japan I would, but out here, there isn't anything to drink.

I got a letter from my brother today.  He said he was sending me a bottle of wine for Christmas, but it didn't get here yet.  It might be a good thing for me if it didn't come because when it does I'll probably be too drunk to work for a day at least HA! 

"Yeah," I remember Ken C_____ but I would like to forget him.  I never did like him very much.  If he isn't playing for Gilead anymore, I would call it good riddance. He's another "pog" that should be in the service.  How those "damn" guys stay out is beyond me.  Excuse the language, but I'm a little disgusted that some of us have to fight a war and some others stay home and make out with all the women and good jobs.   

Do you remember Dick Contino, he used to play an accordion on the Horace Heidt Show?  Well, he dodged the draft and was sentenced to 6 months in jail.  He served 4 1/2 months and now he is out and, so far as I know, he won't be called up again.  I wouldn't mind spending 4 1/2 months in the "jug" rather than stay just 6 months over here.  It isn't just the cold and the long hours that bother us. There are other things, such as crack-ups and lots of time they start fires and there are always live bombs and ammo lying around.  If some of the fire ever got to those bombs, we're through.  And it almost did last week.  We had to throw about 4 tons of bombs over side to them away from the fire.

"Boy," I was already seeing visions of abandoning ship. HA Only I would have been around to abandon ship.  I would have been playing a harp.

Well, kid, I've got to sign off now.  I want to write my buddy on the East Coast.

Answer soon.  

Your pal,

Jim

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Fighting The War In Paradise

USS Valley Forge

Nov. 9, 1951

Bird of Paradise Theatrical Half Sheet, ca. 1951

Hello Norma,

I got your letter a couple of days ago and was real glad to hear from you.

I'm still in the Hawaiian islands and it gets hotter all the time.  The only time it ever cools down is when it rains which is about every other day at this time of year.

You asked if I was working hard.  Not hard, just lots.  One day we worked 23 hours without knocking off and believe me, I was tired.

Last week, we lost two pilots and five planes.  

I always wondered how it would be to watch a man die, so now I know.

If you will excuse me the expression, it sort of reminds me of killing hogs back home.  I think everything has a right to live, but if someone has to die, better him than me.  And we can't let those things bother us.  If we did, we would go "nuts."  Within a couple of days after it happened (the crack up), we had forgotten about the whole thing.

Did you see the movie "Bird of Paradise?"  I went to the place where it was filmed.  It is a beautiful place with lots of volcanoes around.  [Editor's note: there are two films entitled "Bird of Paradise." One was filmed in 1931 and stars Joel McCrea, but I think Jim is referring to the version released a few months before this letter and starring Jeff Chandler.]

It's hard to explain what I do.  I could be truthful and say "nothing," but I am supposed to repair tow-bars, the ones we use to pull planes around on the deck.  There isn't much work, it's the hours that get us down.

Norma, anytime you want to use strong language in your letters, go ahead.  I like for people to tell me what they think and, besides, I'm a good listener.

I got an invitation to Hannah and Chuck's wedding, but I don't think I'll be able to make it.  HA! 

Tell them I wish them all the luck in the world.  

No, I never hear from Phyllis (M______ is her last name).  She may be married for all I know.  I don't know and care much less.  

Well, kid, I'll sign off.

Answer real soon.

Your mate,

Jim.

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