That Woozy Feeling

January 26, 1953

Japan

Print ad, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, ca. 1952

Hi angel,

I got 4 letters from you, two postmarked the 12th, one the 15th, and one the 19th. And I was really glad to get them. We stay at sea so much lately mail has a tough time catching up with us.

Honey, the next time a dog starts chasing you, bark at him louder than he does at you and he will go away. That is if you can muster up enough nerve to do it.

I know, Norm, sometimes things go wrong for us and we feel like just quitting, but if we just let things ride, they usually come out O.K. Right?

And anytime you want to tell me those things, I'm a good listener, if it helps you.

We've been in port for two days and I haven't even been to the beach. That must be some sort of a record, but baring mishaps, I'll go over tomorrow and get with it. But not near so much as I did at Christmas.

That sweater sounds pretty sharp. Does it have its finer points?

I got a letter from mom again today. I suppose she does know she has a son named "Jim," after all.

No, I didn't get to see "Snows of Kilimanjaro," but I sure would like to.

I've seen a couple of the '53 Chevrolets (pictures, that is). I'll bet it is nice. Grissom's is where I bought the "Chevy" I had in '49. 

I'm sorry, honey, that I didn't invite you to our party, but when I come home we will throw one that will make this one look like an old maid's convention.

"Oh, yes," before I forget, you know that application for a date with a sailor I sent you? Well, one of the guys sent on to a girl in his hometown and did she get unstrung. She called him every kind of "cad." She asked him if he thought she was the type of girl who would consider answering such a thing. And signed off by asking him to never speak to her again. HA  I thought it was pretty funny. I hope you don't take yours that way.

I don't remember just what my lowest bowling score was, but it was pretty low. About the same as yours, I think.

If you want to when I come hime, we will take a tour up to N.Y. and you can show me the sights. 

Honey, write as often as you have time. Every night isn't too much for me to hear from you.

You didn't miss it much. We got to Yokosuka the 25 of January. You have our schedule worked out better than I have.

No, I'm not a spiritualist. I wear a pair of bottle tile phones.

You know, "honey," I wish I were with you tonight. I would squeeze you 'til you popped. Then I would kiss you on your sweet lips. You are the sweetest girl I know. I still say you're the reason they are saving front row seats in Heaven. 

The card you sent was real cute and I did appreciate the thought behind it. Thanks for it, darling.

I would have given my left arm and eyeteeth to have been at that party and danced with you.

I'm not much of a dancer when sober, but after 4 or 5 drinks, Fred Astaire is an amateur. HA 

I laughed when you said your legs had a "woozy" feeling. That's where it gets me, too. And, after that, it starts working on my brain. Then, I don't care what I do.

Well, "honey doll," I'll sign off for this time.

Over and out.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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Till I Waltz Again With You

January 23, 1953

"At Sea"

Cover sleeve for Teresa Brewer's hit single, ca 1952

Hi Honey,

We are on our way to port now for a few day's rest and it didn't come any too soon for me. I was beginning to get tired.

They made me work today, helping clean our spaces, but about all I did was rearrange the dust.

We clean up one day and the next day it's just as bad as before we started.

Of course you are forgiven for not writing. I know how it is.

I started this letter yesterday but didn't quite finish it. We are in port now. That is, we are anchored out in the stream and since I don't like to ride the liberty boat, I'm not going ashore until we pull into the dock, which should be no more than a day or two at most.

I was just kidding my buddy. He's reading a story on the "sex life of the American woman." 

I asked him what he was learning. He said not anything, except a husband had to stay home every night to keep them happy. HA  ("Them" meaning the wife.)

When these sailors are at sea, they read up on sex. And when they hit port, they try to put it into practice. HA 

I've concluded that a sailor is the most unemployable person there is. A sailor sees a lot of a few things, but a "swab" sees a little of a lot of things and therefore becomes a "jack of all trades and a master of none." HA 

Look, "Baby Doll," when I start lying to you it will be a cold day in "hell," so don't worry about that any.

"Yes," I finally got a letter from mom and everything was O.K.

I think we are still going to Hong Kong. The reason we are going there, I suppose, is since it is a British owned colony with "Red" Chinese all around it, we can scare them a little if we send a few carriers in there to let them get a look at our sea power.

China doesn't appeal to me at all. It will be nice to see it, but I hope we don't stay more than a couple of weeks as scheduled.

Thank you, honey, for thinking of me at Christmas. I guess you are the only one who did and I meant I would like to be in Detroit with you.

Thanks for mentioning Teresa Brewer's name. I had been trying to think who the girl was who recorded "Rhode Island Redhead" and "I Don't Care." It was her. I liked both of those.

No, I haven't heard "Till I Waltz Again With You."

A "level bolt" is just a place to attach a hoist or platform for working on the plane.

No, I don't get it ready for the pilot. I work with a fire fighting unit. We fight crash fires and clear wreckage. We have all been to fire fighting school and they sent me on to a phone talker's school. When we have a crash, I go out with my phone and tell the commander the extent of the damage, how long it will take to repair it and any other things I think he should know.

Woman, if you don't send me some of those pictures, I'll slap you on you on your "stem shuts" for sure. No fooling, honey, I want some of those. I want to see how you look as a little "fly girl."

I don't know just what you mean by "in action," but we were bombing gooks for three weeks already, if that's what you meant. The only action for us is dodging "prop" blades and runaway airplanes.

Okay, kid, it's a date to celebrate when I get home and as far as that wedding, I'm all for them, too. In fact, anything you say is O.K. with me.

Well, honey, I've got to sign off for now.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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Tomorrow I'll Be Fine

January 18, 1953

"Korea"

Clearing snow from the Badoeng Strait's deck, 1950

Hi, "honey,"

This will be short because I'm "shot down."

For the last four days, we've been going day and night, but tomorrow is refueling day so maybe we will get some rest. Also, if this sounds like I'm homesick, disregard it. Tomorrow, I'll feel fine.

I'll have to hurry this also because mail closes at midnight and it's almost that time now.

I've worn those phone headsets for so long today my head feels like I could stick it in a gun barrel. Pretty soon I'm gonna have cauliflower ears.

Today must be Sunday. I heard Church Call go a few minutes ago. I think it was Catholic mass or something but our Sundays ended when we left Pearl Harbor. That is for the guys in the air department.

I wonder what you are doing tonight? Whatever it is, I would like to be doing it with you.

Norma, honey, I can't think of anything else to say, so I may as well sign off.

Answer soon, sweet thing.

Love, 

Jim

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Every Little Thing About You

January 13, 1953

At Sea

"Happy Valley" (aka USS Valley Forge) Flight Deck, ca 1951

Hi "Baby Doll,"

What's new with the sweetest gal I know?

I'm fine, a little tired but otherwise O.K. I guess I spoke too soon about the nice weather over here because we have hit the grand pappy of all storms. The thermometer is down to 9 degrees and it's snowing like "hell" and has been for three days.

There isn't anything to write about over here. It's the same old routine. Today we shoveled the snow and ice off the flight deck. We started at the bow and worked aft, but by the time we finished, the bow was covered again. HA  Oh, well, that bright day has got to come some time.

I think we are going back to Japan the 22nd of the month. I hope so. It's too cold out here. 

If this letter is fouled up, don't blame me. There are about 6 guys all around me "batting the breeze." 

Honey, I sure am lonely for you tonight. I miss your big smile and the cute way you looked at me when you talked. I miss every little thing about you. 

I'll sure be glad when this cruise is over. One more over here will drive me nuts. The first one wasn't too bad. It was a new experience, but this time it's the same old stuff.  We start engines, fly them off, then wait for them to come back.

Last year, I would count them to see if all got back O.K., but this time I don't give a "damn" if they get back or not. I don't know why everyone is like that, but they are. None of the guys who were here last time pay any attention to them.

Just the new ones, like I was last cruise.

Well, sweet thing, I've got to sign off and write my mother.

Answer soon.

All my love,

Jim

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Front Row Seats In Heaven

January 11, 1953

At Sea

The gun captain prepares for his job of de-icing the gun on carrier
USS Oriskany (CVA-34) off the coast of Korea; January 1953

Hi "angel," 

Finally we had mail call. Yesterday it was. I only got one letter from you, but I guess there are some more held up some place.

We have hit bad weather again. It is raining outside and the sea is getting rough. The barometer (that's a device that forecasts bad weather) has been dropping since noon. It's now 6 or 7 in the evening and it is still falling. It looks like we're in for a bad one.

A couple of days ago we had a "pile-up." A jet caught a wire with his tail hook. It broke, then he caught another and it broke, too. So, he came on up the deck and hit the barriers. But the funny thing was a corpsman and a chief petty officer were chasing each other in circles around me. They are both new aboard ship and haven't seen many crashes, especially a bad one like that. They got tangled up in each other's legs and fell over the deck. 

I was laughing so hard I couldn't make any report of what was happening outside to the commander. He was yelling like hell, trying to find out what was going on, but as far as I know, he still doesn't know.

"Yes," I think we did make Japan the 22nd. I don't remember exactly.

You asked about the catapults and arresting gear. The "cats" are O.K., but the "A.G." is still on the "blink."

I don't know what Vera Ellen looks like in the movies. I never saw her in one. No, "the drunk swabbie" wasn't me. I wasn't quite "that" drunk. 

[Editor's Note: I am Norma's daughter, because I read the letter the same way and thought Jim was the "drunk swabbie" hitting on Vera Ellen, too.]

 I was still sober enough so that the guy she was with looked big and tough to me.

That "damn" shorthand is still confusing. If you ever want to "chew me out," that's a good way. I wouldn't know what you are saying.

[Editor's Note: Norma's shorthand skills were pretty good and she practiced them throughout her life. Especially at Christmas, when she tortured Jim and me by leaving her shopping lists around the house in plain view. The lists would show each of our names, in English, followed by a list of presents, in shorthand.]

Now, don't misunderstand me, I'm not a die-hard Republican. I voted that way this time, but it depends on circumstances how I vote. The next time I might vote Democratic. 

"No thanks," I wouldn't try to write 23 pages in one letter. I couldn't do it and even if I could, it would be too much trouble.

So, if I go to West Point, only in the Navy the place is Annapolis, you will serve under me, "eh?" If you will be a good junior officer, I'll give it a try. HA You know, honey, I could never be anything but nice to you. You are the reason they are saving front row seats in Heaven.

I told Lash what you said. He said I was a hopeless case, that nobody could have any influence on me. HA 

I was very sorry to hear about Cathy's father dying. I didn't know him but judging by the rest of them, he must have been a good "Joe." 

I've sat on the deck writing this letter and my "can" has gone to sleep. Hurts, too. HA 

I just got some bad news. I have to help set out the chairs for the movie tonight.

I didn't know that Cathy and Durham were engaged. Give them both my blessings and heartfelt congratulations.

Well, I have to sign off for now. Over and out.

Answer real soon, honey.

Love, 

Jim 

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The Bachelors Club

December 6, 1952

KOREA

[Norma's Note: "I think it is January 6, 1953]

Harold Feinstein, View From Porthole, from the series Army Draftee

Hi "angel,"

What's cooking? Nutting "new" here, same old stuff. We didn't do anything today. The weather was too bad to fly.

I'll be glad when they run out of this kind of stationery. I've looked at it so much I'm tired of it.

Jim's back to using this stationery

I have to stop pretty often to laugh. We are kidding one of the guys about his girlfriend in the States. He got a letter from her saying she was through with him. "Oh, these women are fickle people." HA

Come to think of it, we haven't had any airmail in about a week. I hope we get some pretty soon.

Hey, "honey," I'm sending a form I want you to fill out and return. It's a form for a date with a sailor. You will see it when it gets there.

I was just reading that last sentence. Sounds logical, doesn't it. HA 

The guys are already talking about leave next summer. I don't know yet when I will take mine. Probably July or August. 

My buddy (Don Cox) and I were talking about taking a tour of Florida when we get out. I sure would like to and then maybe up go up into Canada for a while. I like Canada better than any country I've ever been in. Except, of course,"ye olde U.S.A." I would like to take that trip to N.Y., too, before I have to go to work.

Three of us guys formed a Bachelors Club. We figure that we can never get married any way, so we may as well try to make people think we don't want to. HA We are trying to get some more members.

Well, kid, I might as well sign off. I've run out of verbs and adverbs. 

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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When Heaven Is Silent

[Editor's Note: On the front of this envelope, Norma wrote the title of a book, "When Heaven Is Silent" by Ronald Dunn. 

January 3, 1953

KOREA

Vols v. Longhorns, '53.
It wasn't pretty.

Hi "honey," 

Since mail goes off tomorrow, I had better write while I have a chance. Please excuse the mistakes. I haven't slept very much in the last 48 hours so I'm having trouble keeping my hand steady. Today we have flown 98 sorties. That means 98 planes took off loaded with bombs. More than that took off but some were just photo planes and two didn't come back. 

Two days of combat flying and two planes gone. I guess that's pretty good, one plane per day.

A plane went in the water yesterday and the pilot was picked up by a helicopter. He was unconscious and couldn't be pulled inside the 'copter, so they left him to hang outside in a sling and flew him hanging outside ten miles to the ship. When we brought him aboard, there was ice on his hands and face, but he's O.K. now.

Still a little shocked, but otherwise alright.

[Editor's Note: The action report from the Valley Forge captain lists two planes that were abandoned after being shot down, both pilots were recovered.]

Excuse me while I get a cup of coffee. I've got to stay awake some way.

Tomorrow is refueling day. Maybe we can sleep a little. We operate over here with three carriers instead of two. I thought that would make it easier, but it doesn't.

That's enough about that stuff. How are things at home? You, in particular? I never thought "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" would ever make the hit parade. I can't stand the song. But I guess that's what I get for doing my own thinking.

Tonight is Friday night at home. What do you do on weekends now? I sure could go for some of Westwood's Ice Cream right now. 

Let's drive out for some, O.K.? 

I read about Tennessee losing to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. That almost broke my heart. HA 

Norma, I'm so tired, I can't think so I'll sign off.

Answer real soon.

Love,

Jim


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