Dreams of Decent Food, Clean Places, and Other Things

July 28, 1953

Panama

USS Valley Forge going through the Panama Canal, ca. 1953

Hi Angel,

Well, we finally made Panama. We got here at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. We are still on the Pacific side. Tomorrow we go through the canal into the Atlantic side.

I was over in Panama City last night. It's just like all the other ports, except a little hotter.

They have a lot of Oriental merchandise for sale here, the same stuff we bought in Japan, but the prices are a lot higher.

Honey, that's a pretty good idea, taking the first and last week of my leave for your vacation, if you can get it that way. Some companies don't like to split vacations.

It sure will be nice to get home again. I think a leave will set me up for the rest of my time, unless I can get a few days at Christmas, I probably won't take any more leave.

Now, I guess you will know better than to put a blanket over a light bulb in our house. You might burn the "damn place down." HA 

We will be gone from Norfolk from about the 17th of August to the 6th of September, at least. Most of the time we will be qualifying air groups. We will only be in Nova Scotia about 3 or 4 days.

Yes, Darling, that apartment with you to come home to every night sounds good, but it won't be easy for me to get shore duty. In fact, to get it, I would have to extend for a year in the outfit and I don't want to do that. Four years in here is enough.

I would like to get married now and start raising our baseball team.

I dream of coming home to a sweet little wife like you having a place to sit down and someone to make love to and talk with. 

Also, some decent food and a clean well kept place. But those things aren't easy. I know as much as we love each other we could make it work, but I would like to make is as easy for you as possible, and in here, I can't.

The first thing I'll say to you the first morning you wake me up will probably be, "Go 'way woman and let me sleep another week." 

I never used to sleep so much, but since I've been a sailor, all I do is sleep when we are not operating.

I think we talked about 6 or 7 minutes when I called. I will call you again when we get to Norfolk. 

That dream you had sounds nice. Dreaming is something I seldom do. Guess I sleep too soundly.

Doll, we will talk more of getting married when I get home.

Norm, I gotta sign off.

Answer real soon.

I love you, angel,

Jim

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Wishing For Some Ice And Snow

July 23, 1953

"At Sea"

USS Valley Forge in the Panama Canal, ca. 1951-53

Hello Darling,

I have an apology to make to the West Coast. I thought it was the hottest place in the world, but it isn't. We are someplace below Mexico now and it is so hot we can hardly breathe. I'll be glad when this trip is over.

Some joker just came up and predicted hot weather in a couple of days. HA 

Maybe Nova Scotia will be cooler. I hope so.

I talked to my Division Officer about starting leave on the tenth of September. He doesn't know of any reason why I couldn't, so I guess that's when it will be.

We have a tough operating schedule on the cruise to Nova Scotia, but I don't mind. Time passes faster that way.

Honey, it's too hot to write. I'm now wishing for some of that ice and snow we had in Korea last winter.

Just think, I'll probably never go back to that place again. Not that I want to, but I kind of miss Japan. It seems funny leaving San Diego and going some other place.

July 26, 1953

Hi Sweetheart,

I started this three days ago, but didn't finish it, as you can see.

It's still hot out here but not quite as bad as before. We should hit Panama tomorrow, but we won't start through the canal until Thursday. We stay in Panama until Saturday the 31st of July, then go on to Norfolk. Day after tomorrow, we become East Coast sailors.

Hey, honey, tell me something to write. I'm stuck already.

I could tell you I love you, but you know that. So, I'll tell you anyway, I love you, darling.

Boy, it's gonna be good to get home. This waiting for a leave to begin is the toughest part of the Navy, but it's only a little more than a month now.

I think the Cruise to Nova Scotia will go pretty fast. We will be flying a lot. And if we have to be at sea, I had rather be flying than "dilly dallying" around like we are doing now.

Well, Doll, I may as well sign off for now. 

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

P.S. Notice change in address. [APO in New York City instead of San Diego]

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If You Can't Stand The Heat, Get Out Of The Phone Booth

July 20, 1953

San Diego, Calif.

Sailors on liberty in Manhattan, ca 1950

Hi Darling,

Since this is the last day in port for awhile, I had better write.

As I told you on the phone this afternoon, we pull out tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.

I'm really hot to get underway. I'm tired of this place.

I hear we will stop on the Pacific side of the [Panama] Canal for one day and on the Atlantic side for three days.

We arrive in Norfolk the 5th of August, leave again around the 10th for a cruise up to Nova Scotia to show those people how a good carrier operates and we go into dry dock the 5th of September.

"No," I didn't have the snapshots made yet. No excuses. I just didn't get around to it yet.

A guy gave me the keys to his locker when he went on leave. He came back this morning at 4 o'clock. He said when he first asked for his keys, I said, "Go away you 'so and so', I haven't got your keys." 

I don't remember saying that. About the third time he called me, I woke up.

Just goes to show that false teeth may come in handy when you start waking me up.

You asked about Lash. Well, "pore ole" Lash, he's "done been had." He came back from leave today a married man. 

I guess men will never learn, but he says married life is o.k. At least he didn't lose any weight.

Speaking of getting married while I'm on leave, "Honey," I would like to. In fact, I would like nothing better. But it wouldn't be any good for you. Or me, for that matter.

I would be away most of the time. If I had shore duty then you could live near the base and I could come home every night, but while I'm on a ship, I won't be in the States very much. 

That phone booth I was talking from this afternoon was the hottest place I've ever been in. I almost melted away while I was in there. 

I'm pretty tired tonight and have to get up pretty early tomorrow.

So answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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Dirty Jobs

July 14, 1953

San Diego, Calif.

A sailor's work is never done

Hi Doll,

What's cooking with the world's sweetest woman?

I'm tired. They have been working us pretty hard the last couple of days getting the ship cleaned up for the East Coast. Just think, only one more week before we shove off.

Well, I was interrupted for the moment. Some guy wanted to show me a picture of his dog who has just given birth to 8 puppies. Boy, we have some "beauties" in this Navy. 

I'm sitting here looking at the place where I have to work tomorrow. It's a gun tub that hangs over the side of the ship and we have to paint the bottom side of it. 

I sure am glad those things I mailed in Japan got there. Now maybe my brother and sister have gotten theirs and I can rest easy.

I had to stop [writing] last night when they turned the lights out, but I'm back again.

I'm glad you liked the things I sent and hope they fit as well as you said they did. I'm not much of a shopper, even for my own clothes. I don't care for the job.

There is a rumor that leave will start about the sixth of September on the East Coast, but it isn't official, so don't plan on it. I'll tell you as soon as I find out if it does. I'll take leave about the tenth of the month.

I know the lawyer slightly that you mentioned, Frank Hollis. Also, I think I know the girl. If I'm right, her name was Smith before she married. 

We have won 3 of 5 games since we hit the States. I'm playing the outfield. 

Yes, I was very serious about having duty on Christmas. I'm gonna try to get a few days leave, though, either Christmas or the New Year. If I can, do you think I could talk you into coming to Norfolk?

I must have the dirtiest job in the fleet. I'm sanding the overhang I mentioned before. I'll bet it hasn't been cleaned since the ship was commissioned. If I get it done this time, they will never get me back on it again.

Dot C____ should have told Dr. Parr the missing two weeks was the honeymoon. They were still acting like a couple of starry-eyed school kids.

Any plans you make are O.K. with me. It's been so long since I was home, I'll be like a lost duck in a snowstorm anyway.

And, as for having supper with the Cathys, I love to eat.

Don't forget that I have to go to Tennessee for a few days to see Mom & Pop.  You can go along, if you would like.

You are getting smart, letting your hair grow.

Only about five more days in this port and I'll sure be glad to leave here. 

I had better sign off for now before they turn the lights out on me again.

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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You Had Better Be Ready

[Editor's note: The envelope for this letter had two paperclips on it, Norma's notation that it held special significance.]

July 12, 1953

San Diego, Calif.

When Jim had money to call Norma, he would have looked
for a phone booth, like this one
Esso Gas Winston-Salem, NC 1956 by Hank Walker

Hi Angel Face,

I don't know how long it will take me to finish this. We have two "odd balls" up here, gabbing all the time. You should meet these two, they would drive you nuts.

Now they are singing. It's so funny. I'll have to stop for awhile. Needless to say, they are both about "three sheets on the yardarm." One of them is supposed to come to Detroit when we get leave and wants me to drive with him.

The other said if we would tell him the night we were going out, he would fly up all the way from Colorado just to go out with us. HA  Do you think it will be O.K. if I go out with them?

I suppose you are "shook up" at me (since I haven't had a letter from you in three days). 

And I guess you have every right to be.

I wrote you about three days ago but forgot to mail the letter. I just found it in my locker tonight and dropped it in the [mail] box.

Norm. I can't say what I want to say in a letter. I want to apologize for not calling you again, but by now you should know the reason. I feel a little guilty about getting out and raising "hell" like we did the first week in the States, but in a way I'm not sorry. I had to get away from this ship for a while. I was about to go crazy seeing and doing the same thing for so long.

I know a guy should put the girl he loves before anything else, but you were so far away and I was so disgusted with everything. I hope you will forgive me although I can't promise I won't do it again because under the same circumstances, I would probably be tempted.

Honey, do you know what I would like more than anything right now? 

I would like to come home, marry you, and settle down. Now, it's nothing more than a daydream, but if you will let me, I'll make it come true. 

I'm tempted to ask you to marry me while I'm on leave but I know it's no good, not as long as I'm in the service. But when I get out, then I'm gonna ask you and you had better be ready.

I gotta sign off.

Answer soon

I love you, sweetheart,

Jim

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Curlers In Your Head, Shame On You!

July 9, 1953

San Diego, Calif.

Vintage print ad for Wil-Hold Plastic Rollers, ca. 1950

Hello Angel,

What's new with the girl I love? 

I'm tired. We had games yesterday and today. We lost the first one, but won today's game. We play again tomorrow.

In the letter I got from you today, you said you might not work on your bedspread while I'm home. Well, all I can say is you had better not work on it. HA  You are not a housewife yet and for thirty days you won't be able to act like one.

Seriously, I worked pretty hard the past year and I'm sure you have. I want us to do nothing but relax while we can.

I'll be out of this "Yacht Club" in 18 months. Then we will both have to work pretty hard.

The ship will go in dry dock either in Norfolk or in Newport News, Virginia, which are very close to each other.  I don't have any idea what ship I'll be transferred to. I don't even know if I will be. That might be "bum dope." It's only a rumor. Personally, I think a rumor is all it will amount to. I hope I'm right because if I have to be aboard a ship, I had rather it was this one.

I'll have some snapshots taken the first chance I get and will send you a couple.

I mailed my brother and sister a jacket the same time I did your bed jacket. My mom said in her letter today that they hadn't gotten them either. Also, that my little brother [Larry Parker] was "raising hell" about his. HA  "Damn," I wish they would get there. I'm worried about them. Also, I don't suppose you  have received your coat either.

If I tried to surprise you when I come home, I doubt if I'd find you with pajamas on and set hair*. I'd probably find you with another man. So I'll tell you when I am coming so you can get rid of the bum and meet me. HA 

[*Editor's Note: Young women in the 50s, like Norma, typically wore their hair with some kind of curl. Sections of wet hair were "set" around "curlers" or "rollers," cylinders of various sizes made of hard plastic or metal wire with bottle brushes inside.  To keep in a curler in place, it might have a plastic bar that clipped around the hair, or bobby pins were used to hold the curlers in place, or the curler might have small bristles set in the plastic, which were painful when removed because they pulled some hair out at the root. The curlers were arranged in rows around the head and the hair was allowed to dry to air dry, a process that took hours (often because hair dryers available for home use were slow, large, and pricey). When the curlers were removed, the hair would be styled with a variety of products designed to keep the curl in place. Click on this link for an iconic TV commercial from the 70s featuring Clairol's revolutionary production, "Kindness," a set of electric curlers that achieved the same results as plastic rollers in a fraction of the time.]

I just glanced in the mirror and noticed that my forehead keeps getting bigger and bigger and my hair is getting lesser and lesser. Guess before too much longer, I'll be "baldy."

Well, sweet thing, I better sign off and hit the sack.

Answer real soon.

All my love,

Jim

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I Don't Ever Want To Read My Letters

July 7, 1953

San Diego, Calif.

American soldiers teach Korean children to
play baseball, ca. 1952

Hi Doll,

There is a guy sitting along side of me reading some of his old love letters. Some of them are pretty humorous. If my letters sound like the ones he has gotten, I don't ever want to read any of them. 

Honey, I have a confession to make. After I called you and you weren't home and I was waiting for your phone number, I went out a few times and now I'm broke, so I can't call until after the 15th, that's payday. HA 

[Editor's Note: At the time Jim wrote this letter, long distance phone calls were very expensive for the average consumer and the use of credit cards was rare.  Phone calls for someone in Jim's situation would have been placed from a "pay phone," a phone for public use that allowed callers to insert change in the main unit of the phone. An AT&T operator would tell the caller how much it cost to call from his location to another party, per minute. The operator had access to the unit to insure that the correct amount of change was placed for a specific number of minutes of use. If the caller didn't insert enough money to pay for the length of the call, the operator terminated the connection.  There were no answering machines in homes at this time, so people often made arrangements to be at a specific place in order to receive a call, especially if  they expected one from a loved one. Click on this link to a Wikipedia article that explains how phone calls have changed over time.]

If the fishing gear has arrived, your bed jacket should have been with it because I mailed them both at the same time. Also, I mailed a housecoat about two weeks later. You should be getting them pretty soon.

I sure hope so. I'm worried about them.

We have been practicing baseball a lot lately and we have three games this week, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. I hope to pitch one of the games. 

I've drunk about 4 cups of coffee while writing this letter and still can't think of anything to say.

How much notice do you have to give M.B.T. [Michigan Bell Telephone] before you go on vacation?

I want you to take it while I'm home, but I still don't know exactly when my leave will start.

"Oh, yes," I'll send the keys to the suitcase in this letter, if I don't forget it. If I do, I'll send them in the next one.

Guess what, as usual I had duty the 4th of July and couldn't even get off this tub and the way it stacks up, I'll have duty Christmas Day. I never make out at anything. 

I didn't mention it lately, but I love you, Norma, more every day.

That's why I want you to take a vacation while I'm home. I want to be with you all I can.

Sweet thing, us athletes - HA - must get our rest and it is close to midnight.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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Even Tijuana Is Dead Boring

July 3, 1953

San Diego

Postcard for Tijuana, unknown date

Hi Sweet Thing,

What's cooking at home? You have probably guessed by now that I'm no mood to write. I just can't seem to do anything today.

A couple of us went to Tijuana last night but things were dead there. We were back aboard by midnight. 

We have been working on the ship taking platforms and overhangs off the side of it to be able to get her through the locks of the Panama Canal. 

I heard today that it (the ship) is going into dry dock for a complete re-conversion. If so, it won't be out for two years. I suppose all of us will go to other carriers.

So, Pinnegar is out and driving a new car already, eh? By the time I get home, all of the guys will be out.  Oh, yes, tell Pinnegar "hello." 

Darling, the picture is wonderful. I'm so really proud of it. But, I hadn't forgotten what you look like. I know you'll be the same cute little doll you were when I saw you last. 

Yes, baby!! If you were on the beach, they couldn't keep me aboard. In fact, I might quit playing ball to be with you more. And, honey, for me that would be a sacrifice. HA 

Look, gal, don't have that hair cut too short or I'll get you a wig. And I'm not fooling.

Well, I may as well shut up.

So, answer soon.

All my love,

Jim 

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