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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Riding Around In Circles

April 14, 1953

Yokosuka, Japan

Post card of rickshaw drivers in
Yokohama, Japan, date unknown

Hello Doll, 

How is my baby? Honey, two days ago I got an eighteen page letter from you. This is the first chance I've had to answer it. We just hit port yesterday.

It may take me all night, but I like letters like it and don't mind taking a lot of time in answering.

I was over a while last night and "got with it" a bit, but I didn't stay long. I was back aboard ship by eleven.

Today we held our first baseball practice. The team won't be as good as it was last year. Too many men getting discharged.

You asked about Lash*. Well, I'll tell you what I know about him. He's 23 and comes from Washington State. He's about 5'10 and weighs about 190, but he isn't fat. There is a lot of muscle on him. HA 

And when he gets out, he plans to go back to dairy farming.

[* Editor's Note: As complained previously, Jim's handwriting is just awful. "Lash" is my best guess at this friend's name. It could also be "Jash" or "Losh" or "Tosh" because Jim had a habit of giving people nicknames and some weren't common words, but derivatives of names, words or phrases.]

Last night, some Jap gave my buddy and me a card advertising a massage parlor in Yokohama. We didn't notice the Yokohama and thinking it was Yokosuka, we got a cab, gave him the card with the address in Japanese on it and started out for a massage. We got about halfway to Yokohama and we decided we had better ask him how far it was. Then he showed us the name on the card. We were so "shook up," we had him turn around and take us back to Yokosuka. In all, it cost us about five dollars just to ride around in circles.

I was sorry to hear you couldn't take the job with the doctor. It sounded pretty good, but you know what is best for you.

Thanks, darling, for the birthday cards. You are always doing something for me and I don't want you to think it is not appreciated. It is, honey, very much.

A guy just came by selling raffle tickets on an electric razor. I took three, maybe I'll win it so I can shave. HA 

I'm about to run out of anything to answer but I'll keep trying. I'm in the writing mood tonight.

I suppose Eddy's and Dot's wedding was quite a blow out. In Japan, they would say an "ichi-ban" affair. Congratulate them for me and wish all their troubles will be small, or something like that.

There is a guy in my division from Detroit who is getting married when we get home. I told him I wanted to come over to help him drink his whiskey and if he wasn't going to furnish it, I would bring my own. He said for me to bring my own and he would help me drink it. Not what I would call a charming host. HA 

One of the guys just brought me a sandwich and a pint of milk from the beach. It sure is good, want a bite?

Well, sweet thing, I gotta sign off for now.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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She Must Think She Has Me Hooked

March 16, 1953

at sea, some more

Movie poster for "Elopement," ca. 1951

Hi Beautiful,

Honey, I just love you to pieces. You've written every day for the last 18 or 20 days. (I've forgotten which.) I love it, darling, keep it up.

And it's been three days since I've had a chance to write you. I'll try to answer all of them, but if I fail to answer a question you asked, have patience. I'll get it next time.

I wish I could get some more stationery. I'm getting tired of this, but it's all we have aboard the ship and we haven't been into port in 39 days. We are on our way to Hong Kong now, should be there about the 19th or 20th. I sure will be glad to get a rest. I wish I could get away from airplanes for about 20 years. In fact, I wish I never had to see another one. 

I don't think I'll go ashore as much in Hong Kong. I'll stay aboard and relax.

And day before yesterday, we lost another pilot. It just isn't worth it. 

I was just rereading some of your letters and wishing I could keep all of them but I don't have any place to put them. My locker is just barely large enough for my clothes and shaving gear. 

Look, little angel, if you will save your vacation or at least part of it 'til I come home, we will do anything you want to. If you want to go to N.Y., we'll go, or any place else. I should have 25 days at least and possibly 30, but I still don't know when I will get it. 

I've never heard the song "That's Me Without You" by Webb Pierce, but I'll bet it is pretty.

If I were home and Carl Smith was singing "Are You Teasing Me" and you didn't tickle my leg, I would spank your "stem shunt."

I went to the movie tonight but got to thinking of you and left to write you a letter. The movie was "Elopement" with Clifton Webb. 

My buddy Lash got a letter from his girl friend. She has bought her wedding dress. He said, and I quote, "She must think she has me hooked! HA. HA." And she pretty well has, too.

Well, sweet thing, I have to close and write my mother. 

Answer soon.

I love you,

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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All My Love

December 17, 1952

Still at sea

Hi Norma,

Here I am again. This trip is getting more boring all the time. Every day we have less to do.

The ship is having troubles. Two days ago one screw went out (that's what drives her through the water). We have four. So, they had to cut one off on the opposite side to keep her on even keel. Now they think another one might go out. If it does, we're dead in the water. 

Map showing the IDL, courtesy of Time and Date.com

[Editor's note: I think the "screw" referenced in the paragraph above is slang for one of the four turbines or shafts on the ship.]

And sitting "dead" out in the middle of nowhere isn't the best place I can think of to be.

Oh, well, maybe it won't go out. If it does, there's always a brighter day tomorrow.

We lost Tuesday this week.  We crossed the International Date Line last night and, suddenly, it was Wednesday, but we will pick it up when we come back across.

It still hasn't started to get cold yet. I can't figure it. We should be past Midway Island already. They must be having a warm winter in these parts.

I see my buddy Gerry Lash sitting on his bunk writing his girlfriend. He really must love her. No matter how long we work or how tired he is when we quit flying, he always writes her. Never misses a day. 

I started growing a mustache, but after 5 or 6 days, I shaved it off. I didn't like it. I looked too much like Clark Gable. HA

I had better sign off. It's time to when I start talking about myself. 

Answer real soon.

All my love, 

Jim

[Editor's note: On the front of the envelope Norma wrote, "Dec. 17, 1952 'All my love' first time."]

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