Lost At Sea

March 23, 1952

Lost at sea

"Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), starring Charles Laughton and Clark Cable

Hi Norma,

This is your seasick man again. Well, I'm not exactly seasick, but I'm not far from it.

We're in the worst storm I've ever seen. This tub is pitching all over the sea. We were working all morning tying down the planes to keep them form rolling overside.

We've been out for 23 days this time and I'm getting ready to go back in port again. I don't know just how the captain feels about it, but usually anything that "old man" can do to make life miserable for his men, he'll do it. Did you ever read "Mutiny On The Bounty?" The Bounty was a ship that had a captain who was so bad that the crew mutinied and we're beginning to compare our captain to with him. In other words, our "old man" stinks.

So, my Red Wings done clinched the National Hockey League pennant, "eh?" I was sure they would win, but I didn't think they would do it so soon. 

I really made out on mail today. I got five letters. I even got one from my mother and sister.

So, you always wanted to go to a nightclub, "eh?" Well, they are O.K., but you soon tire of them, at least I do. I guess I wasn't meant to be a playboy HA.

Some people can wake up with those headaches every morning, but not me. When I get out of the Navy, I'll stop drinking. Maybe even before. 

Well, Norm, I've got to sign off, almost sack time. 

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Short And Sweet

March 18, 1952

Sea of Japan

Bob-Lo Island, a Detroit-area amusement park and summer tradition for nearly 100 years

Hi Norma,

How's the cutest, most lovable gal I know?

We're refueling today and I got a letter from you written March 4th. I got three the last refueling day written the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March, so it looks like you're writing more than me, but believe me, I would write more if I had time. 

I got lucky a couple of days ago. I bought a chance on a raffle and won a rifle. I don't know what to do it with it. I don't need a gun over here, so I guess I'll raffle it off myself. HA  

So, the Red Wings are still in first place, "eh?" I would give almost anything to see them play. Also, I would like to see the Tigers play baseball.  [Editor's note: Maybe not. The Detroit Tigers' 1952 season would be one for the record books: the worst losing season in the franchise history (50-104).  It was a record that stood for more than 50 years and was finally broken in 2003 (43-119).]

I hear that Harold T______ is getting married or, in fact, I guess he is already married. Do you know him? I don't know his wife but I hear she is pretty good looking.

I guess it won't be much longer until all the beaches and amusement parks will be open. I hope I get home before they close. I always have more fun at an amusement park than just about anyplace else.

Well, good looking, this one is short and sweet, but I've got to stop anyway.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

P.S. I almost forgot, I'm sending some pictures we took on the flight deck. 

[Editor's note: Knowing that Norma saved Jim's letters for more than 50 years, divided in packets by year, arranged in chronological order, and each year bound with a silk ribbon, it's probably not hard to take a leap and assume Norma saved a lot. She had the heart of an archivist and carried an Instamatic or a Polaroid or a Point and Shoot with her as long as I can remember.  After Norma died and I was faced with sorting through her things, I found a bedroom dresser drawer filled to the top with snapshots. It was daunting. Going through those photographs and cataloging them is a longterm project of mine since I've inherited the Archivist Gene (and am a librarian by trade).

I have a vague memory from elementary school days of rummaging through snapshots of my dad's ship, the Valley Forge, and these were probably the pictures Jim sent to Norma in this letter. I have yet to come across them in the boxes of files from their house that are stored in my basement, waiting for me to excavate.  Like Norma, Jim never threw out a piece of paper on which he had scribbled a random poem or an idea for an editorial.

All of this to say that the librarian in me would love to include Jim's actual pictures (primary source documents, in my lingo) but they're not available.  At least, not yet.]

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Checking Up On The Production Line

Feb. 16, 1952

Saturday night

1951-52 Detroit Red Wings "Production Line," from left, Gordie Howe,  Sid Abel, Ted Lindsay

Hi Norma,

"Yeah," it's me again.  I've really been catching up on my writing this since bad weather started. "Oh," I love this lousy weather. It has been snowing for 5 days now. Not very hard, but there is lots of fog. Too much for a plane to get off the deck. I wouldn't care if it lasted the rest of the winter.

We've been playing records all morning. We have "How High the Moon," by Les Paul and "I Can't Help It" by Hank Williams, and quite a few others. But our turntable isn't very good, it's one of those crank jobs.

One of the officers this me this morning we would begin the States by the 14th of June. I think I'll wait until the last of August to take leave so I can get 30 days and weather won't be so hot.

Bad news just came. We have to work this afternoon, cleaning up the ship, but all our cleaning places are outside, so we won't do much.  We just won't get to sleep any, "darn it."

Do you ever go to hockey games? I used to like them a lot, but I never hear anything about it over here. I was wondering how the "Red Wings" (Detroit) are making out.  [Editor's note: They won the Stanley Cup that season, so I'd say they did pretty well.]

"Hey," is Dorothy D_____ still around? I haven't heard of her since I came in [to the Navy]. She used to be the most "hot" to get married of any girl I've ever seen. I just wondered if she ever made it. I don't think she liked me very much, I used to "kid" her a lot about trying to get "hitched" so much. HA 

Well, Norm, I can't think of anything to say. If we don't fly tomorrow, I'll write again.

Answer soon.

Your pal,

Jim

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