Honey Doll

February 26, 1953

Hi Honey,

Jim's stationery for this letter

What's cooking? 

I don't like to write when I'm in the kind of mood I'm in tonight. I'm in a real black mood. HA These people are trying to put over a raw deal on me. So far, I've been able to talk them out of it, but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to. "Oh, well," it's my trouble so I won't trouble you with it.

Tomorrow is refueling day, so maybe we can get some rest.

You must have started censoring your mail. I noticed you clipped a paragraph

out of one letter. I would like to know what was in the part you cut out.

"Sure," we will go to N.Y. if I get enough leave this time. But I don't know yet how much I will get.

"Baby," I would like to write every night, but I don't have time. I'm a busy man these days.

"Yes," I remember the little town called Wyandotte. I wish we were there now. 

I suppose I'll break down and buy a new car in about 1971. HA I had a '49 Chevrolet when I enlisted. Now I don't have anything. 

That "part of you" that goes to sleep when you sit on a wooden bench must be lazy.

I have a buddy who flies a jet off of this ship. He was telling me about trying to shoot down a bomber. He missed it, but he said scared the "hell" out of the pilot and crew. 

Honey Doll, I have to get up early tomorrow to go watch. 

So, answer soon, 

Love, 

Jim

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Another Short And Sweet

February 22, 1953

at sea

Scan of Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi Baby,

This will be "short & sweet" like all the rest have been lately. If you will excuse the expression, they have been working the "hell" out of us for the last week.

We send of a strike, set up another, and by the time we get the second one off, the first is back ready to land.

All day long it's a continuous cycle.

Today we flew 16 hours and tomorrow is refueling day, but we have to get up at 6:00 to land a couple of "wind wagons." 

Your stationery is very nice. That's a "sexy" initial it has in the upper left hand corner.

That dream you had about us must have really been something. I certainly will remind you to tell me about it when I get home.

I'm trying to write and drink coffee and smoke cigarettes to stay awake. I feel like I've been on a two week drunk and I wish I were. And these "damn" people who keep turning the lights out ain't helping my disposition any.

We have a plane flying to Japan tomorrow. I'm going to have him (the pilot) mail this on the beach for me, maybe it will get there quicker than if it went by ship to the beach.

Honey, since I can't think of anything else to say, I'll sign off.

Answer real soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Short And Sweet

February 18, 1953

at sea

Scan of Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi "angel," 

This will have to be "short and sweet" because mail closes at midnight and it is pretty close to that now. Also, if I don't mail it tonight, it will be four days before I get another chance.

We are still flying day and night and it seems to get colder every day.

You asked if I thought I would make another cruise over here. "Yes," I suppose I will unless the war is over before next fall.

When I get out of the service, I don't know if I want to be a milkman or not. If I could find a job as a salesman for some company, I would like to give it a "whirl." But as far as I know now, I'll have to peddle milk for awhile, anyway.

So you read the "sex life of the american male," eh? I bet it was interesting. To a female, at least. 

I like the pictures real well. I don't want to send the one you wanted back unless I have to. Please, let me keep it, O.K?

I hear George S______ is due home in March, is that right? I suppose a lot of them will be coming home pretty soon.

Honey, I've got to sing off and mail this.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Nothing But Hard Work

February 14 [1953]

at sea

Valley Forge crew on deck from the 53 Cruise Book,

Hi "honey,"

What's cooking at home, on the home front, that is? 

Mail leaves the ship tomorrow, also comes aboard.

We have been out here about seven days, but already it seems like a long time. I sure will be glad when this cruise is over. I wish I could think of something to say, but my super brain won't function.

We are still having it a little better than last year. We still get up at 2:30 in the morning, but usually knock off around 7:00 or 8:00 in evening instead of 10:00 or 11:00.

Well, it looks like my soft life is over. They are taking me off the Communications job and putting me out on deck driving tractors and stuff life that, but I don't mind. I'm tired of wearing a set of telephones all day.

We sure have been lucky this trip. We haven't had any "pile-ups" at all except for a couple of minor ones. I hope it stays that way. 

Tomorrow I'm going to the library for some more books on salesmanship. I'm gonna be a salesman or "bust." I'll probably "bust," but I really want to be a salesman when I get out.

[Editor's note: Jim did become an insurance salesman when he got out of the Navy, back in the days when they used to go door-to-door and, being naturally chatty, he was successful at it. When I was a teenager and had just finished reading "Death of a Salesman" with images of Willy Loman floating in my brain, I asked him once why on earth he liked selling. For Jim, selling was like playing chess, it was all about strategies.]

The boys are talking about what they are going to do in Hong Kong. Some are going shopping, some are sightseeing, and some others are calling home (Transatlantic). But the rest of them will just be sailors and get drunk. HA  I don't know what I will do. Probably the latter along with the old salts.

Honey, I'm real tired, so I'm gonna sign off. I hope you don't mind me always being tired, but I always am at sea. As some guy said, war isn't romantic to the guy in it; it's nothing but hard work.

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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The Iron Mistress

February 7, 1953

Yokosuka, Japan

Jim's stationery, ca. 1953

Hi Angel,

I haven't heard from you in so long it isn't funny, but I may not have answered your last letter, so I'll try to write.

I can't think of anything to say, except we are pulling out tomorrow, going back out to the line. The next liberty port we hit will be Hong Kong and if they have any pajamas like you wanted, I'll get you a set or suit or pair (I don't know which). HA  They don't have any quilted ones in Japan. I've looked all over.

How would you like a silk jacket with an emblem on the back? I'm gonna get one for myself. I'll tell you more about it, it's waist length and very thin. The emblem consists of tigers, dragons, and suchlike. I like the look of them, but I don't suppose they are any good, except as a souvenir.  

Do you like rings and bracelets? If you do, tell me and I'll get you some.

I saw "The Iron Mistress" last night and thought it was great. The best movie I've seen in a long time.

Uh oh. They just brought one of the boys in and poured him in his bunk. One too many didn't do that. It took 4 or 5. HA

I'm back again. I took time out to eat a sandwich that my buddy brought from the beach. Ham & egg, it was pretty good, too, want a bite?

I suppose it is cold in Detroit. I can remember mornings in Detroit getting up at 4:30 to go to work. It makes me shiver, but I wish I was still doing it.

Honey, I wish I were home tonight. Know what we would do? Go to some quiet place and talk. I'm in the mood for some peaceful conversation, but not in a letter. I can't talk in a letter.

I've gotta go doll, so answer soon.

All my love,

Jim

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Tokyo Tourist

February 3 [1953]

Japan

Godzilla vs. The Diet Building, ca. 1953

Hi Honey,

I have been thinking of you all day and could think of no better time to write.

We are still in port. I think we will be pulling out Monday. Before I go any further, I want to tell you I went over earlier in the evening and had a few with the boys, so any mistakes I make can be blamed on that.

I went to Tokyo Sunday and, of all things, visited an art gallery. Of course, we did other things. We went to the "Diet" building. The "Diet" is the same thing as our Congress.

We went to the government library and it was beautiful. Also, we saw a Japanese opera. It was pretty good, I guess, but I didn't understand it. Then we wound up the day by doing the more "bawdy" spots in town.

I'm a "hell" of a guy, going off hunting with your uncle and not coming back, but I'm not like that in real life, only in dreams.

[Editor's note: Norma enjoyed recounting the details of her dreams, although she wasn't one for interpreting the symbolism in them, or other practices that are common with dream interpretation. It was almost as if she believed they were missives from something outside herself.]

The weather here is still pretty nice, a lot better than last year.

Don't let your hair be cut too short. I think real short hair makes a girl look "boyish." I like women who are all female.

If you don't know what to do with that second week's vacation you have coming, you can take it when I come home. I know we can find something to do. I still don't know when I'll get home. Probably the last of August.

Our bachelors' club hasn't picked up many members yet, but we're still struggling along. HA 

Speaking of dancing, I learned how to rumba a couple of nights ago. A little, that is. I can't dance much, but I like to try.

[Editor's note: That's news to me. I never saw him on a dance floor in my entire life. Must have been "dutch courage."]

Well, honey, I may as well sign off as I said before, I'm a little under the weather. 

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim 

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