Hitting The Honolulu Beach

June 18, 1953

Honolulu

DeRussy Beach 1953

Hello Honey,

We hit Hawaii yesterday and I had five letters from you. It made me plenty happy.

It sure is hot here. Quite a contrast from what I've been used to and I'm having a pretty hard time getting accustomed to the change.

I'm not gonna answer your letters in order but just as I pick them up. I'm in kind of a hurry to hit the beach. HA  

Norma, I would like to be with you today. I can think of many things we could do. I love you, honey, and will be glad to get home to show you how much. 

That swimming and laughing on the beach sure sounds like fun. 

We had a division party yesterday. I didn't intend to go, but decided I had better. Now, I wish I hadn't. Too much beer, no good. HA  I couldn't hit the ground if I had fallen out of an airplane last night.

Oh, well, I'll quit doing things like that someday.

My mind won't function this morning. I must have been in worse shape yesterday than I thought I was and, from what they say, I was pretty far gone.

I think I'll go over today and see a movie.

Sweet thing, I better sign off before I pass out. HA 

Answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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Civilization By Way Of Milwaukee

June 16, 1953

"At Sea"

The Braves made Major League history when they moved
from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953

Hi Honey,

We must be close to Honolulu, it's hot at hell. I can't stand too much of this temperature. I think I'll go back to the line. On second thought, I don't think I will. HA 

I know we are getting close to civilization because tonight I heard a ball game from Milwaukee. 

We pull into Pearl Harbor tomorrow morning at seven o'clock and the division is having a beer party tomorrow night, but I don't think I'll go. 'Cause too much beer will weaken me. HA 

If I'm right, Pinnegar and Stewart and some more of the guys should be out by now. I'll bet they are sure glad to be civilians again. 

Sometimes I wish I had joined the Army. 

I just wrote my sister a letter and "chewed her out" for going with a certain guy. She is 16, he is 23 and the most obnoxious man I ever met.

My simple mind is pretty well a blank tonight. All I can think of is nine days to stateside and then about 40 days to Norfolk. That East Coast is sure gonna look good to me. 

Hey, honey, tattoo just went, so lights out in five minutes.

Answer soon.

I love you, Doll, 

Jim

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The Land of Cherry Blossoms

[Editor's Note: This letter is chronologically out of sequence, but it was wrapped in Norma's package of letters after the one dated December 17, which leads me to think that she arranged them in the order in which they were received. The letters hint at the notorious US mail delivery problem that plagued all the branches of service for decades (centuries?).]

December 4

Thursday

Hi Norma,

ITO, Yuhan (1882-1951). Castle and Cherry Blossoms.
Original woodblock print, Japan, c.1930.

Long time no hear from you. Also, long time since you heard from me.

Here is my excuse. We left San Diego the 20th of November and just got to Pearl Harbor yesterday. We were qualifying pilots on the way over and one had a miserable time of it. We've had more crack-ups than we've had in a long time. In one day, we demolished three planes.

The gear that stops the plane when he landed on deck tore up. We repaired it at sea, but the catapults tore up so we had to pull into port to fix them. That's why we are here now.

I suppose we will be here about one more week, then we go on to Japan. 

I hear we are spending Christmas in the Land of Cherry Blossoms. I hope so. I've pulled too many holidays at sea to suit me.

No, Dot H_____ and I do not write to each other and your guess about whether she and Cy are going together is as good as mine. Probably better, you are home, you can see what's going on. And as for EXCUSE PLEASE [Jim scribbled out a spelling mistake] congratulating me, you won't have to as far as she is concerned.

So, you can stop all rumors to that effect. In fact, I would consider it a favor if you did.

No, thanks, I wasn't interested in Dot D_____ that way. I was just wondering if she ever hooked a husband.

I hope you don't have to have your glasses changed. I suppose that is a lot of bother.

Neither Pearl Harbor nor Honolulu have changed much. Still just like they were last year and I don't like them any better. It seems the people here hate "Valley Forge" sailors worse than any other ship. Every time any of us go ashore, someone starts trouble with us. Oh, well, it's a tough life but someone has to live it.

Well, honey, I better sign off now.

Answer soon.

Love,

Jim

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Refighting The Civil War In Honolulu

Nov. 11, 1951
Sunday night

Movie poster for "Saddle Tramp," ca. 1951

Hello Norma,

I got your letter today and was real glad to hear from you.

The weather doesn't get any cooler here, but it hasn't rained any today.  I guess that is one consolation.

Right now we're in port.  When the ship is tied-up the air department doesn't anything but sleep and stand watch once in awhile.  But we have it coming, because at sea we do more than anyone else. 

"Look, kid," don't worry about me.  There isn't enough peda over here to get me. HA! 

When you learn to knit, you can make me a pair of socks; when we get to Japan it's gonna be real cold.

We're having a "hell" of a big argument about who won the Civil War, so if I put in something wrong, don't pay any attention to it.

Well, I just quit writing and finished the fuss, so all is quiet & peaceful again.

If you can save 20 bucks per week, that's pretty good.  I'm not even saving 20 cents per week.

I was over in Honolulu for awhile yesterday.  I went to a movie, "Saddle Tramp."  That's about all there is to do over there.  I don't like the place very much.

There are lots of girls over there, but they don't have nothing to do with Sailors.  

I'm beginning to think a Sailor has a bad reputation everywhere.  

"Whew," we've started fighting the Civil War again.  It looks like we're gonna start shooting before it's over.  HA! 

Well, kid, I better sign off before the shooting starts.  I might get a hole shot in the paper.

Answer soon.

Your pal,

Jim

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