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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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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Kiss Of Fire

December 26, 1952

Yokosuka, Japan

Front cover of William Wegman's version of the classic which
uses his Weimaraners as models. [The editor's favorite.]

Hi "sweet thing,"

'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house

Everybody was feeling like "hell," including me.

[Editor's note: Years later, Jim would write an annual Christmas poem and often parodied the classics. This wasn't an auspicious beginning. Click here for a traditional version of "Twas The Night Before Christmas."]

Our party started at 10 in the morning and broke up at 11:30 last night. Just enough time for us to get to the ship by midnight. (That's when liberty expires.)

But no more like that one, that's too much for me. I quit. "Well," 'til New Year's anyway. HA 

You can tell me what you bowled no matter how low it was. I've done worse. The last two times have almost caused me to quit.

"Boy," it is cold here today. It snowed a little this morning but has stopped now.

By now you should have heard from me. I wrote you 4 or 5 times coming from Pearl Harbor to Yokosuka. Also, a couple of times since we got here.

No, I don't know Babe H____'s husband's name.

I danced to the song "Kiss Of Fire," about 20 times. The last time and every time, I thought of you. The only reason I didn't pass out was I kept moving by dancing all the time. I never have passed out and I'm too old to start over. 

"Boy," that trip to New York sounds O.K. Just stand by and we'll make it some day when I get out of this organization.

Speaking of "are you teasing me," you sure gave me a "fit" last night. I can't stand any girl, especially you, to tickle my leg above the knee. That gets my vinegar up in a hurry. 

Hey, did you hear this definition for "convenience"? It's something that hurts when everything else feels good.

I don't remember if I went back to T-town [Tijuana] anymore or not. I probably did.

I got a Christmas card from Norton L___. I wish you would remember to thank him for me, please.

Well, baby, I've got to sign off now.  Over and out.

Answer real soon.

I love you,

Jim 

[Editor's note: On the front of the envelope Norma wrote, "December 26, 1952 'I love you' first time."]

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Still At Sea

December 15, 1952

"Still at sea"

The USS Valley Forge's  missions in the 50s took them into
areas of the Pacific Theater that had been critical
10 years prior during WWII

Hi Norma,

It's me again. We are still on our way to Japan. It will take us ten days to get there when we could make it in seven or less, but I guess the "old man" is in no hurry.

He is no good for anything, so I suppose we couldn't expect anything good from him. When they gave us a captain this time, they must have scraped the bottom of the barrel. And the executive officer (second on command) is not better. If anything, he's worse. So that, among other things, points to a not so pleasant cruise.

I suppose to you this is boring, but it's all I can think to write about. 

The weather is still hot. I think we are about half way between Pearl Harbor and Midway Island. It will start getting cold after we pass Midway.

I'll be glad to get to Japan. I don't mind being at sea when there's something to do, but now there is no work to be done. All we have to do is kill time.

Glad to hear your father is able to go back to work. I know what it's like to be sick for weeks at a time and I don't like it.

[Editor's note: In September, Norma's father had a successful colostomy and was one of the first people to survive the surgery, which was considered revolutionary at the time. It's also remarkable that Clyde went back to work less than three months later and may be attributable to his strong work ethic. It was something Norma inherited from him. As for Jim illness that kept him out of commission for weeks, the only incident I know of is a back injury while playing high school football, which created ongoing problems that he would need to address for the rest of his life, but wasn't serious enough to for a military deferment.]

I got a Christmas card from Tom L___'s class [at Gilead Baptist Church]. Did your mother have anything to do with that? Tell her it was appreciated. Also, the rest of the class.

With the church a ship's gray now, when I come home I'll be flying model planes off the pulpit. HA 

I know Kirk and his girlfriend were supposed to get married, but I didn't know when. He is another one who should be looking around the country instead of increasing the population.

And as for going to a seminary, that's fine, but I think he would make a better minister if he went out and looked at the world first. Of course, that's just my opinion and doesn't mean much.

I don't know if you can write a letter at five in the morning. At that time, my mind is a total blank.

I heard something about Doris S______'s "young-un." I don't know what it is (what sex, I mean.)

Well, little doll, I've got to sign off. So "over and out."

Answer soon.

Love,

Jim

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Sweet Thing

December 13, 1952

Lost at sea

Hi Norma,

From left: Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen, Bing Crosby,
"White Christmas," ca. 1954

It will be at least a week before I can mail this, but I was thinking about you and decided to write anyway.

We are two days out of Honolulu, going to Yokosuka, Japan. We are supposed to arrive there the 22nd of December.

I probably told you already, but they worked the hell out of us in Pearl Harbor and on the inspection there, we got a "Good." I don't know just how good that is.

We haven't had any trouble with our catapults and arresting gear for about two weeks now. Maybe we won't have any more. I hope so. 

Did I tell you, I saw Vera Ellen (the actress) in a night spot in Honolulu? Not exactly Honolulu, a town called Pearl City, just outside Honolulu. 

I suppose she went there to avoid the crowds. A drunk swab (sailor) kept going over to her table and telling her how beautiful she was, also how he would like to take her out. At first, she was getting a kick out of him, but finally she got tired of it. Then the bouncer tossed the swab out. She was with some big, good-looking guy I've never seen or heard of. In fact, I didn't even learn his name. It might have been her body guard. 

[Editor's note: Curious phrasing in the paragraph above and it makes me wonder if Jim was the drunken swab making a play for Vera Ellen or if he was drinking with the "swab." If there was no interaction between Jim and Vera Ellen, how would he be in a position to learn her companion's name?]

It looks like we will be in Japan for Christmas. Oh well, as I said before, it beats Korea.

"Oh," I almost forgot, we haven't had any pile-ups since you started writing again. I think you bring good luck.

I heard on the radio about that guy, Delmore, dying. That's tough. I used to like to hear them sing.

From now on Norm, when I tell you something that concerns me, you believe me, not something that someone else tells you, O.K.?

It seems some people are trying to take care of me. Every time I go out with a girl a few times, someone is getting me married. Even my mother (the dear, old soul) gave me a mother to son talk on the subject of matrimony while I was home. HA  She thinks I should marry before I get out of the service or immediately after. HA  I'm not the marrying type. I'll take that back. Every guy wants to get married some time, but I'm in no hurry. I'm only twenty-two, so I've got lots of time left. I can't see those guys who marry at 18 to 20. They spend time taking care of a wife and kids that should be spent out looking around the country, getting a practical education. 

I didn't even finish high school, but I think I know as much as a college graduate who hasn't been out of the States.

And when I've seen enough and been around enough, so that I can make a good living for a woman and make her an interesting as well as good husband, then I'll get married. You may not agree with me, but that's the way I look at it.

And another thing, if a tourist went to Japan, he would go see things like the shrines in Tokyo, or the abbeys in Yokohama, or the remains of the atom bomb in Nagasaki. Those things don't interest me. I like to be with the people in the middle class, people like myself who work for a living. I like to sit and sip sake with them and talk. Of course, we have trouble understanding each other, but we manage. That way I learn their habits and customs and ways of doing things that are simpler than the way I previously did the thing. That, to me, is an education that surpasses anything a college could offer.

"Boy," I got all wound up here and can't seem to stop. Hope you don't mind.

Glad to hear you are taking piano lessons now. You can play for me. I really love to hear a piano.

That damn shorthand confuses me. I guess that's one thing I can't learn traveling around.

And Merry Christmas to you, honey. I hope yours is better than mine.

The election suited me O.K. That's the way I voted.  [Editor's note: Eisenhower defeated Stevenson in the presidential race.]

I'm losing some weight, but not much as yet, but I will this winter.

Your bowling is improving, keep at it, it is good exercise, if nothing else.

Well, "beautiful," I've "yapped" long enough for a while. Sometimes I get in a mood that I could write all night and this is one of them.

But I've got to sign off. So, answer soon, "sweet thing." 

Love, 

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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Rings For Everyone

USS Valley Forge

Oct. 12, 1951

USS Valley Forge artwork from Jim's stationery, ca. 1951

Hello Norma,

How's the only girl I have?

This leaves me in the best of physical conditions.   I'm not going to mention mental conditions.  You might have other ideas on that.

Where were you all the time I was home, huh?  Don't you ever go anywhere, anymore?  I only saw you one time and I couldn't stop to chat then.

I sure had a swell time while I was home, but I sure wish I had had more time so I could have seen everyone and gone more places.

I got a letter from my buddy who is on the East Coast in the Navy.  He said he was getting married pretty soon, which reminds me, every girl I saw, almost, shoved a ring in my face.  Are you wearing one yet?

I think I'll get myself one.  I feel out of sorts without it.  HA! 

These guys are standing around joking the kid who is writing beside me, so don't be surprised at what I put in this.

We are "shoving off" for Pearl Harbor Monday morning.  I don't know how long we will be there, for probably 6 weeks, then we will go on to Japan.  

I wish we would go directly to Japan.  I don't think I'm going to like Pearl Harbor.

As soon as I got back, my two buddies started planning a farewell trip to Mexico.  I don't know if I will go or not.  I probably will.  I like wine, women and song too much to stay away.

They had a good-bye dance for the ship's crew in San Diego Wednesday night, but I didn't go.  If I had, the guys would have had to bring me home in a sponge and at those dances, there are always lots more boys than girls.

Well, Norma, I've got to sign off now.

Answer soon.

Your pal, 

Jim

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Some Days, There's Just Nothing But Work

USS Valley Forge

Sept. 10, 1951

Hello Norma,

How's things at home?

This leaves me O.K.  This salty air seems to be doing me good.  HA! 

I know I haven't written you in a long time, but I've really been busy the last month.  We go out and stay all week and we work from 15 to 19 hours almost every day.  Today they let us off early.

Did Chuck and Hannah get married yet?  Tell him if they haven't, he had better hurry up things before I come home.  HA! 

I don't like San Diego at all.  It costs too much to pull a decent liberty.  

But it's supposed to be the worst liberty town in the U.S.

Did George S______ ever get called into the Army yet?  Also, John S____ and Jimmy L_____?

You should be out here with us and watch the planes land and take off.  It is a lot of fun, but's its beginning to get a little old.

I guess you had your vacation in Canada already.  I belt you had a lot of fun.

I think we'll be shoving off for Pearl Harbor in October.  Then from there, we go to the battle zone.  If those guys can hold on until we get there, we'll end it right away.  HA! 

During our battle training, just completed, we received a mark of good,  I think the "old man" (Captain) was pretty proud of us.

Well, kid, I had better sign off for now.

Answer soon.

Your buddy, 

Jim

There is no mail coming in or going off.  So, I don't know when I'll get to mail this.

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