Hello From Boot Camp

James C. Parker, S.R.
Co. 208
Great Lakes, Ill

January 21, 1951

Scan of Jim's envelope

Hello Norma,

How's the kid? As for me, I couldn't be better and know less.  

Well, we are really having rough weather here.  It snows and rains all the time.  You should see me march, "boy" that really is something.  And my clothes, oh "man oh man," nothing fits me but one shirt.  When I snap to attention my pants are still at ease.  The chow here is plenty good but you have to stand in line for 50 minutes sometimes.  The guys are telling jokes so don't be surprised at what I put in this letter.  Some of them are kind of smutty.  

I don't know what to write except to ask how your boyfriend is getting along and if you are still going to get married when he gets out of the Air Force.  Well, I had better sign off for now because I have some more letters to write.  

Answer soon or sooner.

Bye for now, 

Jim


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The Last Letter

April 25, 1954

Norfolk, Va.

Scan of the stationery box Norma kept with the letters

Hi Doll,

How's things with you? I got two letters from you today for a change. 

We hit Norfolk this morning and were supposed to have some sort of ceremonies for visitors, but we didn't rate a pier to tie up. We had to anchor out in the bay.

We have been shooting the "bull" here and I haven't written any for the last hour.

That meal you cooked up sure sounds good, wish I could have eaten my part of it. I'll come home if you will promise to cook me a meal like that.

Yes, dear, we will go to Florida when I get out. It is real pretty in Jacksonville and I hear it's even prettier around Miami. 

I got a kick out of what the [Detroit] Free Press said about the 25 "speedy" fighters from the "Saipan." The Saipan is a Jap carrier and I know what type of planes she has, about ten or twelve. Years ago they may have been fast, but now they are obsolete. HA They are about as fast as these anti-sub planes we have. They hit about 200 maybe in a dive. 

I've been talking again. It seems every time I write you I start gabbing and never finish it.

Oh, yes, you mention "mizpah" one more time without telling me what it means and heads will roll. I'm tired of trying to figure it out. 

The weather sounds pretty good at home now. Wish I were there to enjoy it. 

Yes, honey, I know what you mean, but we will see what "Uncle Sam" does with me first. "Hell," he might even decide to let me out early. HA 

From Norfolk, I think the ship is going to Brooklyn, N.Y., after that on to Halifax. 

I had better sign this off. I want to see the movie tonight. 

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

Editor's note: And that's how the story ends. At least from the USS Valley Forge.  I remember hearing stories that Jim was discharged earlier than he expected, so "Uncle Sam" did come through and shortened his time by six months or so. 

In the back of the last packet of letters, Norma kept a piece of the stationery box that Jim used with his initials in white ink. She also kept a playlist of songs:

• Somebody Loves You
• Am I Wasting My Time
• Our Honeymoon, Carl Smith
• Letters Know No Arms, Ernest Tubbs
• I Gotta Have You, Red Foley

It probably comes as a surprise to learn that Jim and Norma didn't get married immediately after his discharge, despite the discussion in Jim's letters. Norma told me once when I was a teenager that Jim had trouble adjusting to civilian life after nearly four years of being told what to do. She also described symptoms that sound a bit like PTSD: forgetfulness, difficulty focusing on tasks at hand, bouts of anger. As much as she wanted to get married, Norma decided that Jim needed time to acclimate to post-Navy life. 

After one date in the winter of 1954-55, Jim brought Norma back to her parents house. He was offered a cup of coffee and took off his jacket, which he draped across the back of a chair. He told Norma he forgot his cigarettes in his car and went to fetch them. 

"That's when I knew he was going to propose," Norma told me.

"How?" I asked skeptically.

"I noticed the cigarette box in the inside pocket of his jacket. He went back to get the ring."

Jim went all out, a diamond ring in a platinum setting, offered to Norma as he got down on one knee. There was never any doubt about her answer.

Jim and Norma, ca. 1995

Jim and Norma, in their first apartment on their
wedding day, June 4, 1955

Click on this link to read the first letter from Jim to Norma.

Click on this link to go to "Jim Parker's Corner," a blog that showcases Jim's newspaper columns and poetry.

Go Happy. Go HoJo.

April 23, 1954

"At Sea"

Howard Johnson’s restaurant and ice cream shoppe postcard – circa 1950’s

Hi Sweetheart,

What's cooking on the old homestead?

"Boy," this damn Yankee weather is about to get me down after those hot days in Cuba. We haven't been to Norfolk yet. We went to Rhode Island to drop off the air group and are on our way to Norfolk now. Wish you were going to be on the dock to meet me.

I got your Easter card today. It is very nice. Thank you, honey.

I'm trying to hurry along to finish this before the ballgame starts. After that, I doubt I will be able to write much. 

You will have to excuse me. I've been fighting Civil War again and neglected you for the moment. One thing for sure, when conversation lags mention the war and it immediately picks up.

Sounds like you people almost ate the Howard Johnson place out of chow. Wish I could have been there to help you. 

In the last hour I've written three lines. We have been talking baseball. 

These guys like to shoot the "bull" almost as well as I do.

So, John [Parker] has another Nash. I knew he wouldn't be without a big car for long. Sounds like it has everything on it but a clothesline. Does it make a bed? 

Tell Ruby [Turley Parker] I do remember when she showed me around the [Detroit] News.  I enjoyed it very much.

[Editor's note: Ruby Parker was one of the few women who worked for a newspaper setting type in the 50s. The profession was predominately male at the time and Ruby was widely considered to be excellent at her job.]

Honey, do you think you could get me a job singing with the "Glee Club?" I could really do with a deal like that? And if you and I were on TV together, they would probably sign us to a movie contract.

Baby, if you kiss me once for each year, it will take quite a while. I'm getting pretty old. 'Tis a nice thought, at that. [Jim's 24th birthday was March 31.]

Gal, it's been two hours since I wrote a line. I've been talking over our part of the war with a guy who was on another ship in Korea. He was talking about a bomb hit they got on their flight deck. I remember seeing it go off. We were operating with them in task force 68 at the time. I guess it killed several guys and hurt some more. This guy I was talking with was a crash crewman on the ship. He said they had a "hell" of a fire.

We were at sea all day Easter Sunday. We were on our way to Mayport, Florida. The captain wished us all a happy Easter, then tried to get the ship docked that afternoon so we could go ashore, but they wouldn't let us in the harbor.  

"Oh, yeah," did I tell you the air department got an excellent on the training cruise and the "V-1" division got an outstanding on most of the operations. 

The air department officer was really proud of V-1. He was slapping all of us on the back. They he bought ice cream and cookies for us. 

I had better sign this off before it becomes a book.

Answer soon.

All my love,

Jim 

Greetings From The Canoe Club

April 19, 1954

Mayport, Fla.

Sailors Fishing (date unknown) 

Hi Sweet Thing,

Look at me, honey, just finished eating supper and I feel fine. We had the first fresh milk I've drunk since we left the States six weeks ago. I must have gained give pounds. "Oh, yes," we had strawberry shortcake, also.

Some of the guys are fishing just outside the hatch. I was out there awhile, but didn't catch anything. Since I came in, they have caught five catfish. One will go about 2 pounds. The others are just little guys.

Honey, this Florida is the prettiest harbor I've ever pulled in. The climate is just right. It is about 65 degrees now. Everything is ideal for a vacation. I sure would like to come down here for a couple of weeks when I get out of this canoe club. 

I got a letter from JoAn [Parker Oxford] today. She heard that you were coming to Cuba while the ship was down there. HA I can't figure what starts those rumors.

I wonder if John [Parker] and Ruby [Turley Parker] are coming down here on vacation this year. I don't wonder at them liking it so well. No more of it than I've seen. I like it as well as any place I've seen. And that takes in a lot of country because I've really been around, haven't I? HA 

I'm just sitting here thinking, eight months and I'll be out (if they don't extend). That's all I do anymore. That and play volleyball.

I'm out of ink, so I'll sign off for now. 

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim 

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Off The Coast of Mayport

April 18, 1954

Easter Sunday

Naval Station Mapyport, ca. 1950

Hi Sweet Heart,

Happy Easter, honey. I wish I were there to help you show off your new Easter outfit. I suppose everybody was at church today. On Easter, everyone who never goes to church any other day always shows up. I didn't go. I haven't had a chance to buy a new suit. HA 

We are only 50 miles off Mayport Florida now and the captain tried to get permission to dock this morning so we could go ashore today, but they didn't have any tugs to tie the ship up. 

I think the skipper was pretty "shook up" about it. He's the best captain we've had and he gets transferred in June.

I heard tonight we have two carriers off Indochina in a stand-by status. I don't think they have launched any strikes yet.

I'll be glad when we get to Norfolk. I think the schedule has been changed and we have two weeks in there to rest and recuperate.

Honey, I haven't said much, but I better sign off and get this in the mail.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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The Life of a Horse Trader

April 17, 1954

"High Seas"

Florida Keys

Hi Darling,

How's my baby tonight? I feel pretty good. A little tired maybe, but we played volleyball from 3:30 this afternoon 'til 7:30.

The training cruise is over and we are on our way state-side. Wish you were going to be in Norfolk when the tub docks. One look at you is all I need to make me feel perfect.

We passed the final exams with a pretty good mark. We got an excellent, nobody got any better and a lot of people got worse. So, I suppose we are battle worthy. HA  We should be after two years in the Pacific. The air officer was very pleased. He bought ice cream and cookies for the whole damn bunch in this department.

Did I tell you I'm a trader now? I must be. I bought a watch last night for $25.00 and sold it tonight for $35.00. Guess I would make a pretty good horse trader. I think that's what I'll do when I get out. How would you like to be on a farm and feed the horses while I'm away on a buying trip?

It seems to be getting cooler. We must be getting close to Florida. In fact, I think we passed some of the Keys today. 

I've been thinking, honey, if this mess in Indochina gets any worse, they might be sending some carriers in there and, if they do, I will be extended for a year anyway. If I do get extended, I'll put in for a carrier that is going there if this doesn't go. I'll feel more like I'm going some good if I'm with the Indochina fleet.

You may be an old maid before we get around to getting married if we wait 'til I get out and if you are still willing, we could get married this summer if they do decide to keep me. At least it's something to think about while we are waiting to find out what they are going to do with me. 

I was going to tell you about Haiti tonight, but I've written more than usual already and my arm is getting tired.

So, I'll close for now.

Answer soon.

I love you, Doll,

Jim

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Telling Sea Stories to the Boats

April 15, 1954

"Pay Day"

Postcard from Haiti, ca. 1954

Hi Honey,

What's new with you? Nothing new here except we got paid, which is a change. Did I tell you about Haiti? If I didn't, remind me of it some time, it's quite a place.

Doll, it seems every time I write I have to hurry. This time is no different. Mail closes tomorrow morning, as we leave here tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow is the last day of this "cruise" down here, but we have a rough day in front of us. I'm tired tonight. We brought aboard some "dud" airplanes today. I was on the barge rigging slings on them all day. I hope they don't expect too much from me tomorrow.

Have you been listening to ball games since the season started? I heard part of the Tiger/Cleveland game today, but I don't know who won.

Look!! sweet thing, you don't have to worry about me taking care of myself. I'm doing pretty good at that. The closer my discharge date gets, the more afraid of these airplanes I get. From now on, I'm gonna act like a short-timer. All I'm going to do is drink coffee and tell sea stories to the boats.

You mentioned the letters I wrote you from overseas. Honey, some day I would like to read a couple of them to see how "gung ho" I was, but I was really "hot to trot," especially in '51 and '52. HA 

Gal, you must have the M.B.T. [Michigan Bell Telephone] snowed, but congratulations. I'm glad they like you.

I'm gonna close now, have a cup of coffee and go to bed.

Say "hi" to everyone for me and answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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