Codfish Air Lines

May 28, 1953

Valley Forge

Scan of Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi Darling,

I'm back again. We hit the line again today, but didn't do any flying. Bad weather.

I have some pretty straight "dope" this time. We leave the line the 7th of June, arrive in Yokosuka the 9th and leave there the 11th. Stop three days in Pearl Harbor and hit San Diego the 25th. But from now to the 7th of June, it's going to be "rough" on refueling days. We don't rest anymore. We refuel in the morning and fly in the afternoon. 

I'm damn glad I don't have to make a summer cruise over here.

We played three games the last time in port, but only won one of them. One of the losses was a two to one game, which we should have taken.

How would you like a new picture album? They have some real nice ones here. If we get liberty the next time in Japan, I'll get you one. You can use it when you get the one you have filled.

I don't know if "Sex After Forty" is any good or not. I didn't read it. HA 

I was just thinking about how good it will be to get home again and away from all this stuff over here. If I have to pull another cruise out here, I believe I would go nuts for sure. Nothing I can think of would be as bad as this, except maybe the infantry, and sometimes I think they have it better than we do.

Some writer has said that the outfit I'm in was the nearest thing the Navy has to a combat infantryman, but sometimes I think the infantryman is the nearest thing the Army has to a Navy "fire-bug." 

Honey, my section has to get up at 3:00 tomorrow morning, so I had better sign off. But at that [time we are] "late sleepers," the other section gets up at 1:00. HA 

Answer soon. 

I love you,

Jim

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The Third With Two Paper Clips

[Editor's Note: Norma had a system where she paper clipped the envelopes that held letters of special significance, mainly when she noted a "first" of some kind, but occasionally she put paperclips on envelopes that contained romantic thoughts. The envelope that held this letter had two paperclips.] 

May 7, 1953

"At Sea"

The DMZ, "The Line"

Hello My Darling,

I have the same old excuse for not writing. I haven't had time. This has been the toughest period on the line this cruise. 

We have flown those damn planes 'til I can't understand how they still have wings left and I've sat on my tractor so much I have "housemaid's knee" on my bottom. 

But my troubles aren't yours, so I'll shut up. But sometimes I get so fed up with this outfit, I could jump overside. 

Honey, we got an extension over here, but it's only nine days, so it won't make any difference. Last year, it was six weeks, so I guess we are lucky this time.

Norma, you're a little doll. I was looking over some of your letters I haven't answered yet and you haven't missed a day writing to me in a long time even if I don't write. Every time I get a letter, I love you a little more. I love you, darling, and if you will let me, I'll tell you how much when I come home.

The sundress you bought looks pretty nice. You will wear it for me won't you, when I get home?

If you want to, doll, we will go over to our park every night. Only I'm afraid it will be autumn before I can get leave. I know it won't be until September and probably will be October. If you want to and can, you could come to Norfolk or wherever the ship goes in dry dock. I would like for you to be the first person I see when I hit the States. It's just a suggestion. I don't know if you would like to make the trip or not.

[Editor's Note: When I was a kid, one of Jim's nicknames for Norma was "Go Parker," because she never turned down a chance to go anywhere, so my guess is that Norma would have made every effort to meet the ship when it got to the States. But we'll have to see what happened as the letters unfold.]

This was supposed to be our last tour on the line, but since we got extended, we have to come out one more time, but for only six days.

You asked what position I play on the baseball team. This year, I'm playing outfield but some pretty good third baseman done joined the Navy to beat the draft and got stationed on the Valley Forge and he beat me out of my job. HA  We have a better team this year. I doubt if I will be able to hang on to my outfield job.

"Oh," I almost forgot, we won the first game, 8 to 5.

You're right, "glory bars" and campaign ribbons are the same thing. 

The cartoon was O.K., but I still like my own idea. I hide the keys in my shoe and tell you I lost them.

[Editor's Note: Huh. I never tried that shoe thing. Keys must have held a fashion for the Parkers because Jim wrote about them when he and Norma sold their house in Dearborn. Click on this link for his letter to the buyer and my story behind letter.]

Sweet thing, I've got to sign off now and hit the sack. 

Answer soon.

I love you, honey,

Jim 

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From Hong Kong To The Line

March 27, 1953

Hong Kong

Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi "Honey Doll,"

What's cooking with the sweetest gal I know?

We left Hong "Klong" yesterday for the line. We should be there the 29th or 30th. 

We sure had a good time there. It was the best liberty port I've been in for a long time. I don't know how it would be to be stationed there. Probably get "old" pretty quick.

Did you hear the one about "Ferdinand the Bull?" 

It seems Ferdinand was turned loose in a pasture next to a herd of cows.

Seeing them, he jumped the fence, then a surprised look crossed his face. He lowered his head and commenced munching grass. A young "heifer" walked over and said shyly, "Aren't you Ferdinand the Bull?" 

"No," he said. "I'm just Ferdinand now. I didn't see the top strand on that barbwire fence."

I thought it was pretty good. Whatta you think?

Well, I just got the "dope." We start flying again the day after tomorrow. Our vacation is over. HA 

But at least this time it shouldn't be so "damn" cold.

The way I hear it, we only have 25 or 30 more actual flying days to go. The rest of our time will be spent in port.

"Sweet thing," I sure would like to be with you tonight and tell you things I'm thinking. I can't put it on paper. 

We've known each other for a long time now and have been writing more than two years. Well, let's put it this way, You said if my plans don't include you when I come home, you would take your vacation another time. Darling, my plans definitely do include you. In fact, you just about are my plans. Of course, that is if it's alright with you. I'm very much looking forward to you taking your leave the same time I do. I love you, Norma, and hope that soon I can tell you that with you in my arms.

Honey, I've got to sign off and get in my sack before they turn the lights out.

All my love, 

Jim

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