Just Another Routine Day

May 8, 1952

Lost at sea

USS Valley Forge Model Kit, ca. 1952

Hello Norm,

How's my baby? I'm just sitting here trying to think of something to say. Everything is so routine out here when I tell it once, I've told every bit of it.

Except that we had two more planes shot down this morning, but they picked up the  pilots. 

I saw them when they brought them aboard, they didn't look too bad. 

[Editor's note: unless Jim is wrong about the date the two pilots were rescued, the incident was so routine it was not included in the Action Report filed by the ship's commander with his superiors in Washington.]

I don't think you have been neglecting to write. I did notice a slight drop, but that can be accredited to spring. HA. 

You know in the spring, a young lady's fancy turns to love and a young man's fancy turns to baseball.

Just think, it won't be long until this thing will be homeward bound.

Just 55 more days til we hit the States.

Norma, I wish I had more time to write so I could say more and make my letters neater, but when I get a chance to write, I always have to hurry.

So please, honey, forgive the mistakes I make.

"Boy," that nice weather back home makes me homesick. What I wouldn't give to be home going out to the beach and wiener roasts and things like that.

I'm glad you got a raise. Now settle that steel and petroleum strike, then maybe we'll win this war.

Tell that little boy next store that sailors can "drive" planes, but if he grows up to be one, he's pretty dumb. There isn't enough "dough" in the world to get me to fly those things. 

I've seen what those things can do. And plenty of these pilots over here wish they hadn't made a career of flying. 

Take those two guys this morning. They could have been hit same as their planes. 

Well, honey, I've got to sign off and take a shower.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

Click on this link to read the next letter. 

Don't Never Say Nothing 'Bout Re-enlisting

April 25, 1952

Lost at sea

Clem Powell, another Valley Forge sailor who didn't like what he heard

Hi Norma,

I got two letters from you today and I had better answer them while I have time.

I sure was glad to get them. I don't know what any of us would do over here if it wasn't for mail. Go nuts, I guess.

We knocked off at 11:30 last night. I slept until noon today and do I feel better.

Two of our pilots went out yesterday and radioed back that they were having trouble with their planes and had to land on a base in Korea, but I'm pretty sure there was nothing wrong with their planes, all they wanted to do was to get drunk. All either one of them likes to do is fly and drink.

They are both with an aerial circus on the outside. They were reserves who have been recalled. 

No, I'm not in port. We left port the 11th of this month.

That telephone strike can get serious if it lasts long enough. And I read in our own newspaper (The Valley Forge Press) that Truman had taken over the steel mills to keep them from striking.  I don't like the idea very much, but still they shouldn't strike. We need steel too much. I don't think any of those guys work 18 (and more) hours per day like we do. And I think they all make more than $100 per month (that's what I make), so if they don't like what they have, tell them to come over here. We'll trade places with them any time. Strikes are O.K. in peace time, but in times of war, they are no good.

No, I don't like night ball games as well as day games. The brand of ball isn't as good. The players are handicapped by lack of light.

You said that it rained on Easter Sunday. Well, that's nothing unusual. It always does. All the little girls get their new hats wet.

I was justing checking over one of your letters I got a few weeks ago where you said something about me re-enlisting. Don't never say nothing like that again. It scares me. I'll be in here long enough as it is, and from the way the world situations look, I'll be in the rest of my life, anyway.

Well, honey, I better sign off and hit my "basket."

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

Click on this link to read the next letter.