Received My Answer

[Editor's Note: On the envelope of this letter, Norma wrote "Received my answer 1953"]

June 8, 1953

Scan of Jim's envelope with the stamp upside down
(meaning "I love you")

Hi Honey,

I finally completed my tour of duty and am on my way home. Break out the bands, lock up the girls and call the kids in the house, 'cause I'm heading East.

We stop today (tomorrow) in Yokohama, then we're on to Pearl Harbor for two days, then we'll reach San Diego the 25th, and we're underway again for Norfolk about the 15th of July. "Damn," it will be nice to get off the West Coast for a while. And another thing, they have begun to discharge Navy men three months before their expiration date. If they keep that up, I might not have to leave the States anymore.

I started this last night, but didn't finish it. I was too tired.

Well, we hit port today and are supposed to pull out tomorrow at 3:00 in the afternoon. 

This morning before we pulled in, we flew all our planes off that would fly and was I glad to see them go.

The pilots will go stateside with us and get new planes when we get there. 

We had a tough time getting them off because of a 50 knot wind that was so strong it almost blew over some of the jets.

Did I tell you about the jet pilot who piled-up so much this cruise? He hit the fences three times. The day after his last one, I saw him in a plane warming up for a take off. I went over and told him I was checking his plane number so I could break out my fire hose when I saw him coming back. At first, he didn't know what to say and finally he blurted out, "You son of  a _____!" HA 

We kid him and call him the "sloppiest" damn pilot in the Pacific, but he doesn't care and isn't a bad pilot. In fact, he is pretty good.

Honey, I got your answer today to my question. Thank you, darling. It makes me feel wonderful to know you love me, too. Also, knowing you'll wait for me gives me something worthwhile to look forward to.

"No," I never heard of the carrier "Albany," it must be "Jeep" carrier. 

I noticed out relief "tub" arrived and it is the "Lake Champlain." 

I was talking with two swabs from it tonight. They didn't seem too happy about leaving the East Coast to come over here. HA 

I think it will be good for those Eastern boys to put up with the stuff for a change. 

Well, doll, I've got to sign off. I have a feeling we will be getting up early.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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The Good Humor Man Is Coming Around

May 8, 1953

Vintage Good Humor Ice Cream truck and vendors,
image courtesy of Classic Concessions

Hi Honey Doll, 

I wrote you last night, but I got three letters from you today and I can't get as much behind as I did before.

This is one refueling day that I rested. I haven't done anything at all but sleep.

The boys in my section all call me "the old man" [Jim was 23 when he wrote this]. There are 7 of them and only one is over twenty. Just now, one of them walked up and gave me a book he said would be appropriate for me. The title was "Sex After Forty." HA 

One of the guys got a letter from his girl friend today. She sent him some real seductive pictures of herself. In one, she had nothing on but a pair of lace panties, but it isn't too revealing. In fact, she doesn't have very much to reveal. HA  He is sitting on his bunk, looking at them now and every so often he says, "Damn, I wish I was home."

Honey, if you sent me pictures like that, I would swim the Pacific getting home.

"No," I never read "Hamlet" in school. I read "Ivanhoe" and "Lady of the Lake." 

"Yeah," if the Good Humor man is going around, it is spring. I think that's what I'll be when I get out, a Good Humor man. HA 

If those damn Tigers don't start winning pretty soon, I'm gonna get razzed off this ship.  If they don't do better, I might refuse to see a game when I'm home. 

[Editor's Note: Jim shouldn't get his hopes up. The Tigers finished the season 40 games behind the Yankees who took the American League that year.]

So, you have been "swinging the swab," eh? Well, you have nothing on me. The "X.O." makes us wash bulkheads (walls) in our spare time.

We got good news today. The air officer got his orders. I don't know when he's leaving, but it won't be long.

Yesterday, we were putting on an air show for 48 big "wheels" that came aboard. The weather was too bad to fly strikes, but they flew off and came right back aboard. I asked one pilot why he wasn't flying.  He said he wasn't going up in bad weather for nobody, not this close to going home. And that pretty well sums up my feelings, too. I'm not gonna take any chances at all. If one of those birds spins in, I'm gonna run in the opposite direction.

That raise sounds good. Wish I could get one.

Well, darling, I've got to sign off. So answer soon.

With all my heart, I love you,

Jim

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My Heart Belongs To Only You

Sunday

April 5, 1953

At Sea

June Christy's song, "My Heart
Belongs To Only You" hit the
Billboard charts in March, 1953

Hi "Honey Doll," 

What's new with the sweetest gal I know?

Nothing much to talk about. It's still the same old routine out here, except we are having trouble with the executive officer again. HA  He doesn't like our division officer. In turn, he makes life pretty miserable for us sometimes. He says we are the best working division on the ship, but we aren't military enough. In my opinion, he is just a "so so" fighter pilot who has gotten too many good "breaks." During the war, I guess he had a good record for killing Jap planes. He was lucky and thinks his luck was skill. He hasn't got enough sense to realize that anyone who could get a plane "off deck" could make commander during World War Two. I hope the captain doesn't get knocked off and leave that "bum" in command. He isn't capable of being responsible for three men, not to mention three thousand.

So much for my troubles. 

No, I haven't heard either of those records you mentioned. In fact, I've never even heard of June Christy, is she something new? 

I'm sure tired tonight and I've got to get up at 3:30 and go on watch. I don't know if I'll be able to stay awake or not.

The paper was right, we've been flying lots of planes off this thing for quite a while. Out of the last 72 hours, we've flown 54 hours. Everybody is worked to a "frazzle." HA 

Your class must be growing. I'm glad to hear it. Keep up the good work, but be careful swelling that chest up to size 52". You might "bust" a strap. HA 

"Darling," I've got to go to bed and get some sleep.

Answer real soon. 

I love you,

Jim

P.S. I'll write more tomorrow.

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Payday

March 30, 1953

"Payday" HA

U.S. Soldiers near "Old Baldy," west of
Chorwon, South Korea, March 1953

Hi Honey,

The upper right had corner says payday. I can't figure what good it does. We don't have any place to spend it.

I think we leave here the 14th of April and go to Japan. The rest of our cruise shouldn't be too rough.

But it would be if there was very much more of it. Yesterday morning we got up at 3:30, 5:00 this morning, and 1;30 tomorrow. A lot of that would get me down fast.

You remember I told you I didn't know anything about fighting a fire in a jet air craft? "Props" are the only ones I've been checked out on. Yesterday, we had a fire in a jet while starting it.

It was throwing flames about 8 feet behind it. I didn't know if I should run, try to put it out, or what. So, I kept giving the pilot the signal to "turn her up."

And that way, we blew the fire out. I was expecting the thing to blow up any time. They told me later that I did right, since that is the only way to put out the fire without ruining the engine.

All it did was add more "silver" to  my graying hair. HA 

We have a plane going to the beach tomorrow. I'm gonna try to get this letter on it, if I can. I don't know the pilot, but maybe I can find someone who does.

I suppose you have been reading about "Old Baldy" hill in Korea. I was talking with a pilot who was over it today. He says the place is tore  all to "hell." He was over giving the "Doggies" some close air support. 

Sweet thing, I've got to sign off and hit the "basket." 

Answer soon.

All my 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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Kiss, Cuddle Up, Then Kiss Some More

September 28, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Dancer in Nightclub, Tijuna, Mexico, ca. 1962,
photographed by Robert Doisneau

Hi Norma,

How's my elbow-bending baby? I'm O.K. We just got in from a week of very hectic training operations. We were qualifying some "green" jet pilots and, believe me, those guys are dangerous.

They were piling them up one after the other all week. Another week like this and I'll be beating my head against the wall. 

Speaking of cool weather, it has gotten quite a bit cooler here. I never thought I would see anything but heat in San Diego. 

"Gal," let me tell you, I was "looped" that night my buddy got discharged. "I ain't never been so drunk."

I like to drink some, but it will be a long time before I get that "high" again.

You would like Tijuana. You know something about Monroe Street in Chicago, I guess. Well, T-town is like that all over, all night spots.

Their burlesque shows aren't very artistic, but they don't leave much to imagination. They get old after awhile and the girls you find there are the same way. Well, to be truthful about it, I like a little more peaceful atmosphere. I'm a little tired of dodging beer bottles. 

But it's the only place to go around here except "Dogo" and there you've got to have quite a bit of money to have any fun. And no sailor is very well "heeled." 

That wedding sounds like it was a pretty gay affair. I would have liked to have gone to that with you. We cold have gotten "silly" together. If I'm right, you will be twenty-one the next time I'm home, so we'll work things out. 

[Editor's note: In 1952, the age of majority in Michigan was 21.  I'll leave the rest to your imagination.]

That "Singapore Sling" sounds like a pretty potent drink. I think I could use one right now. 

Tell me, Norm, how do you get in those places under age? Out here, they check everybody (girls, especially) when they enter the door. And they used to check me most of the time I was in Detroit. 

You had better be careful with that Ford or you might get hurt and we wouldn't want that to happen. 

The card you sent was real nice, honey, and it expresses my feelings right now. I would like to be there with you. We would kiss, cuddle up, then kiss some more. 

Well, gal, I've got to sign off. So, over and out.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Don't Wait Up, Mama

September 16, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Michigan Central Station, in Detroit,
where Jim would have caught a train heading West

Hi Norma,

How's the kid?

I intended to write sooner, but as soon as I got back, we went out to sea for a week and as soon as we came back in, I transferred me to an atomic defense school. It only lasts one week, so I'll be back on the ship next Saturday.

It is real interesting. I would like to attend it for a couple of months. 

The next time I come home, I'll tell you all about the atom bomb. HA 

I was really tired from the train ride back, but I've almost recuperated now. And almost recuperated from those "heatings" you gave me, too.

Did your father come through his operation, O.K? I hope so.

[Editor's note: Norma's father, Clyde Cornett, had been diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent a successful colostomy, something that was rare when he had the surgery in 1952.] 

Last Thursday, we had a plane "pile up" and a real bad fire. One guy in my division was burned pretty bad getting the pilot out. They say he will be in the hospital from six to eight months. The pilot wasn't hurt very bad, just second degree burns on his face, but our boy had third degree burns from the waist down. The flesh was burned away and hanging loose from him body.

One of my buddies gets discharged tomorrow and we are going out to celebrate. So, "don't wait up, mama. I may be kinda late coming home." HA

Last Sunday, I went to my buddy's house for dinner. Afterwards, we wanted to go to Tijuana to see the bullfights, but his "old lady" wouldn't let us, so we wound up taking her bowling. 

That's married life for you. Not for me, I'm too young and inexperienced. 

Well, I've got to close. 

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Cold Paper Kisses

May 29, 1952

Lost at sea

Lipstick kisses for letters to the 'boys'. LIFE, 7/20/1942

Hi Norma,

How's my gal? I'm O.K., I guess. A little tired, but otherwise alright.

We've been flying a lot the last week or so. We have had a lot of bad luck lately. The last five days we have lost five planes and four pilots. Plus one pilot is on the beach in North Korea behind enemy lines. He has been there four days and the weather has been too bad the last two days to get in to him. We also have a helicopter crew of three men down over there. They went in to rescue the pilot and their "copter" "piled-up." I haven't written to you for quite a while, I know. But we have been real busy day and night, trying to keep those guys who are down located. 

I got a letter from Mom today. She said she hadn't heard from me in a month. 

If we don't get the "hell" out of here pretty soon, we won't have any planes or pilots left at all. Those "Gooks" shoot straighter all the time.

You asked what I meant by "going wild" when I drink too much. Well, when I'm out with a lot of other sailors, I sometimes get into a little friendly brawl. HA Nothing serious ever happens.

It won't happen when I'm out with you, I promise. Besides, I don't drink too much when I'm home. Just over here, I get lonesome and having nothing else to do.

They cancelled the extension. We will hit the States the 6th of July, I think. 

Look!! honey, those kisses on paper are pretty cold, but I guess they will have to do for now. But wait 'til I come home -- 

I think we have to get up at 1:30 tomorrow morning, but I don't care. I haven't slept for so long, I just don't care anymore.

O.K., kid, I'll tell you about jets, but I'll bet you get tired of listening. HA

Well, honey, I've got to sign off for now and hit the sack.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Just Another Routine Day

May 8, 1952

Lost at sea

USS Valley Forge Model Kit, ca. 1952

Hello Norm,

How's my baby? I'm just sitting here trying to think of something to say. Everything is so routine out here when I tell it once, I've told every bit of it.

Except that we had two more planes shot down this morning, but they picked up the  pilots. 

I saw them when they brought them aboard, they didn't look too bad. 

[Editor's note: unless Jim is wrong about the date the two pilots were rescued, the incident was so routine it was not included in the Action Report filed by the ship's commander with his superiors in Washington.]

I don't think you have been neglecting to write. I did notice a slight drop, but that can be accredited to spring. HA. 

You know in the spring, a young lady's fancy turns to love and a young man's fancy turns to baseball.

Just think, it won't be long until this thing will be homeward bound.

Just 55 more days til we hit the States.

Norma, I wish I had more time to write so I could say more and make my letters neater, but when I get a chance to write, I always have to hurry.

So please, honey, forgive the mistakes I make.

"Boy," that nice weather back home makes me homesick. What I wouldn't give to be home going out to the beach and wiener roasts and things like that.

I'm glad you got a raise. Now settle that steel and petroleum strike, then maybe we'll win this war.

Tell that little boy next store that sailors can "drive" planes, but if he grows up to be one, he's pretty dumb. There isn't enough "dough" in the world to get me to fly those things. 

I've seen what those things can do. And plenty of these pilots over here wish they hadn't made a career of flying. 

Take those two guys this morning. They could have been hit same as their planes. 

Well, honey, I've got to sign off and take a shower.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Over Davy Jones's Locker

May 3, 1952

Over Davy Jones's Locker

Cherry blossoms in Yokohama, Japan

Hi Norm, you little cherry blossom,

"Yep," you guessed it, the cherry trees are blooming in Japan. 

I got two letters from you today, but I bet you haven't heard from me in a long time because I've been too busy to write.

Usually on refueling day we get most of the day off, but today we refueled in the morning and have been flying all afternoon.

It is about 7:30 now and we're waiting for the last strike to come in. It will be home around 10:00. If I'm lucky, I'll be in bed by 11:00 and have to be up again at 2:45 am.

This life is making an old man of me fast.

Speaking of driving, I don't know if I can still drive or not. The only thing I've driven since we came over here is a tractor we use on the flight deck. I take them on "test hops" sometimes after I've been working on them.

I wish I was a plane "mech" and could fly them on test hops.  When I get out, if I can afford it, I'm gonna learn to fly. I think by then I'll know enough about planes that I can almost fly a trainer without lessons. These fighter bombers are much more complicated. Frankly, I think it would be easier than learning to drive an auto. Anyway -- I'm gonna give it a whirl.

"It's a deal." When I come home we'll get "plastered" together, but don't let me get "too" plastered or I might get wild. Sometimes I do. I don't think I would in the States, though. Over here none of us gives a "damn" what we do.

So, you like your "Tom Collins" sweet, "eh?" I don't. The more "bite," the better. In fact, I take whiskey straight, with maybe a Coke for a "chaser." The trouble with this "Gook" liquor is there is no use for a chaser, there's nothing that will catch it.

The weather here is really nice. I hope it stays like this the rest of our cruise.

We got a little scare today. One of our jets was hit and couldn't get his flaps down. They help to slow the plane down and to keep it steady. We had no wind (about 4 knots) to slow him down. He came in "weaving" and "bobbing." He must have been making 160 or 170 mph when he hit the deck; that's fast even for a jet, they usually land at 100 to 120 mph. I still can't figure how he avoided a "pile up," but somehow his tail-hook caught a wire and hung on. I still see visions of that one. HA

We got a new record, it's "Pittsburgh Pennsylvia" by Guy Mitchell.  It's pretty good. 

Yes, they gave us an extension over here. I think I will get leave in August or September. I don't know which, yet.

They just said the "windjammers" are about to land. I'm gonna let my buddy take this landing. They don't need both of us topside during landings. We don't fix anything but emergencies during take-offs and landings.

I'm glad "Bill" is giving you another week off. Maybe I'll be home then. [Editor's note: Bill was Norma's boss at The Phone Company.]

I just heard the weather is bad over Korea, that's why the night hop is coming in early.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Wonder what I would be doing if I were home, something besides sweating "jet jockeys," anyway. We lost three more yesterday. One of them was a pretty good buddy of mine. "Damn" them "chinks," anyway. 

[Editor's note: From the Action Report for May 2nd, Jim seems to be writing about Lt. John Z. Carros, who was killed in action when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. In April, 2015, more than 50 years after his death, a reporter wrote a story about Lt. Carros for his hometown paper, "The Bristol (CT) Press." You can read more about Jim's friend by clicking on this link.]

Honey, when I talk like that, it's time to knock off.

Answer soon.

Love,

Jim

P.S. Tell Eleanor "hi." Also, she can put her shoes on, she's not in Kentucky now.

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Fly Boys

April 24, 1952

Lost at sea

"The Bridges of Toko-ri," inspired by events on the Valley Forge

Hi Baby,

Tomorrow is refueling. Mail goes off and comes aboard, too. "Thank goodness!!" I've written you one letter this week already but it never hurts to write a cute girl two times in one week.

I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open and once in a while I notice my hand start to shake. When I get like that its time for me to go to bed, but I can't until around 11:30. It's about 8:00 PM now.

In fact, the only things that keeps me awake are coffee and cigarettes. This stuff has got to cease pretty soon or they won't have any men left. 

We got 7 replacements last month for men who have been sent to hospitals or to stations where the duty is lighter, but they won't transfer me. I'm too dumb to do anything else, I guess. HA. 

"Well," another one of our pilots got the Purple Heart, a medal for bravery. He got hit in the canopy with shrapnel and it cut his face pretty bad, but he brought it in anyway, so therefore the Navy figures he is a brave man. Personally, I do, too. 

[Editor's note: the pilot Jim describes is listed in the Valley Forge Action Report incident dated 4-23 as "LCDR D.E. Brubaker VF 194." James Michener, who was a reporter stationed on the Valley Forge at the time, interviewed Brubaker and he is thought to have inspired the Brubaker character in Michener's book, "The Bridges at Toko-ri." I have long known that Jim thought James Michener was the best novelist of the 20th century, but I didn't realize that they were on the Valley Forge at the same time or that the novel is based on an incident that occurred while Jim was on the ship. Time for me to read the book.]

I wish I had the "guts" some of these "fly boys" have. It takes a lot of nerve to do what some of those guys do. 

It is beginning to look like we will be out here 30 days again this time. I was hoping we wouldn't stay so long, but it's official, Norm, we hit the States the 3rd of July. "Hurrah." We call it "Dogo" (San Diego Day) or "D" Day.

"Hey, Norm," what happened to the Tigers? The last time I saw the standings, they hadn't won a game and had lost 7. I guess they're missing my moral support. HA 

If I get home before the season is over, I won't do anything but see ball games. 

Norm, I'd better sign off for this time.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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One Kiss Per Lesson

April 21, 1952

Lost at sea

Scan of Jim's stationery for this letter

Hi Norma,

It looks like I started writing at the wrong time. The "sea apes" (men in the gunnery department) just started firing their 5 inch guns. Practice, of course, at least I hope. And they really jar this tub.

Norm, this letter will probably be pretty short. I'm so tired I can hardly sit up. In the last 4 days we've had about 16 hours of sleep and its about to catch up with me.

This captain of ours must be trying to win the war by himself. And the help of his crew, of course. I wish we had another "old man," one with a little more sense. 

We lost another pilot yesterday. A lieutenant named "Les" Workman. His plane was shot up pretty bad and went down in Wonsan Harbor. He bailed out, but his "chute" didn't open. So, that was all "she" wrote, he was a good guy, too. 

I've been reading a little bit about the telephone strike, but I don't know much about it. 

[Editor's note: after graduating from high school, Norma worked as a stenographer for "The Phone Company," as ATT was known at the time.]

So, Charlene and Norma R_____ are getting married, "eh?" Well, if they don't know any better, I guess it's alright. Personally, I can't see why anyone would want to get married nowadays. 

It really is spring over here now. I'm down to one pair of pants. HA  Before long, I should be down to none. "Oops," shouldn't have said that. HA  

I don't know if my six easy lessons [for learning how to park a car] include homework or not. It depends on the pupil. Of course, pretty often we get to park and talk over your mistakes, if any. My fee is one kiss per lesson, but if you want to throw in a few "tips," that's alright, too.

Just hang on to those Patti Page and Doris Day records 'til I get home and I'll drive you "nuts" playing them so much. 

I want a wallet-size photo of you. If it's any bigger, I've got no place to keep it.

No, I wouldn't say that I'm bashful. Let's just say I'm a little shy around women. 

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

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Going Back To Work

April 16, 1952

Lost at sea

USS Valley Forge, ca. 1950, with planes ready for duty

Hi Norma - you sweet thing,

How's the little girl tonight? I'm O.K. I guess the only thing wrong with me is I've got to go to work again tomorrow. We left port yesterday morning and that life in port was really good while it lasted.

The Navy loses money on us when we go in for a rest, none of us do anything. That is, the guys in the Air Dept. The guys like cooks and office workers work as much in port as they do at sea. We call them the "sissies" of the fleet. They envy us because we get all the glory when there is any to get.

We have to fly tomorrow to refresh the pilots. They haven't flown in more than two weeks and that's a long time for a carrier pilot to lay off. They should fly every day. Tomorrow they won't fly strikes. They will go up, circle the ship a few times, and land to get the "roll" of things again. 

If everything goes according to plan, we will be in San Diego in 79 days. That will be the first or second of July.

I think we must have hit the same storm over there that you did coming home from New York. It has rained here for two days and the wind, at times, was terrific. It looks as if you guys got out of the "Big Town"just in time.

You said you liked to stay in motels. I do, too. They are always outside of town and its quiet and peaceful. I always stayed in them when I went from Detroit to Tennessee and vice versa, that is, when I didn't drive non-stop.

Norma, honey, I've got to sign off. We start flying at 4:30 tomorrow, that means we get up at 3:30.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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The Cradle Of Charms

March 17, 1952

Somewhere in Korea

Detroit Parking Cop, outside the Michigan Theatre in 1952, as he tickets a car

Hi Norma,

Well, I haven't written to you in four days, but at least I'm not as tired as I was the last time I wrote, so maybe this one will be more sensible.

I got three letters from you last mail call day. I hope I do it again tomorrow. 

I should write to you more often than I do, but I'm so tired when we quit flying at night all I can do is shower and fall into bed.

The weather is getting better all the time. I don't have to wear but two pairs of pants, one shirt, one sweater and a foul weather jacket to keep warm. HA  You can imagine what I had to wear when it was cold.

Have my letters been sounding homesick lately? I'm sorry, I didn't mean for them to. When I start to feeling sorry for myself, I try to think that our pilots and the guys in the Army and Marines over on the beach are getting it a lot tougher than me, so maybe I'm not having it so bad after all.

I'm glad the Red Wings are in first place. I sure would like to see them play.

So, you finally got all the spaghetti? I'm glad. I guess you're not Italian after all.

When I come home, I'll show you how to park a car in six easy lessons. Of course, each lesson takes 2 or 3 days. 

Excuse the [spelling] mistakes, maybe I'm more tired than I thought I was.

How easy it is to park a car depends on where you want to park. Downtown isn't so easy, too many other cars in the way, but if you're parking in a lovers' lane or someplace like that, well, it isn't very hard at all. HA   At least that's what I've been told.

And if you'll give me a big enough kiss, I'll show you how to park in both places.

We got that record, "Little White Cloud That Cried" by Johnny Raye.  The song is O.K., but the singer "stinks." If it were by Patti Page or Doris Day, it would be pretty good. I've also heard "Any Time" and "Slow Poke." [Editor's note: these two songs were recorded by Helen O'Connell and both were on the Billboard Top Ten list for February, 1952.]

We also have "Give Me More Of Your Kisses," but it's by some "hillbilly" who can't sing at all.  [That would be Lefty Frizzell.]

Yes, I'll be able to vote, I think. We should be in the States on election day.

We had some bad luck today. The squadron commander of V.F. 111, a jet squadron, was killed today. He was a commander named Baslee, one of the nicest officers I've ever met. Everyone liked him, but when you're getting shot at, I suppose bullets don't respect anybody. It was an anti-aircraft battery that hit him. He knew he was hit so hard that his jet would never pull out of the dive, so he piled his plane up right on top of the gun that hit him with three bombs still on it. It don't suppose that gun emplacement will ever get anybody else.

But it hurts like "hell" to lose a guy like him.

[Click on this link for a declassified document from the commander of the USS Valley Forge, detailing events the ship encountered from March 3 - April 4, 1952 and describes the actions of Lt. Commander Baslee, who was awarded The Purple Heart posthumously.]

Norm, I started this last night and could have mailed it then if I could have finished it, but the "Reds" didn't want me to. About the time I started, some enemy planes started snooping around and we had to go up on deck just in case they came too close. But that's the trouble, they don't come within gun range. They just fly close enough for the radar to pick them up. That gets the captain all bothered, so he can't go down to his room and he thinks if he can't go rest that no one else should.

So, we stayed at a ready condition until 10:30 last night after getting up at 3:30 in the morning.

But enough of my worries. Let's talk about something better, like you, you Cradle of Charms. "Corny, eh?" I sure would like to see you, I'm about to forget what you look like. How about sending me a picture of yourself, one that I can pin up on my locker door, O.K? 

Well, Norm, I've got to sign off this time or pretty soon this will be a book.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim 

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Saving Buck Rogers

March 10, 1952

Monday night

Some of Jim's crew members maintaining machine guns.

Hi Norma, 

What's new? "Nutting" over here. it's always the same. 

I'm sorry to hear that you have a cold. This makes two or three for you this winter, doesn't it? You must be unlucky.

But I've been lucky.  All through the bad weather I never did have a cold.

The weather us getting better all the time, but it still isn't warm enough.

I think the big "wheels" have finally decided to win the war instead of talking the "gooks" out of it because we've been flying like "hell" for the last three days. 

Where we used to fly 70 or 80 sorties per day, now we're flying a hundred or more. 

Those top ten tunes you wrote about are new to me. I've never heard of any of them, except "Tell Me Why." 

We have that record, "I Can't Help It" by Hank Williams. 

In case you didn't notice, my pen is all "fouled up." I loaned it to one of the guys this morning and he used some sort of ink that wasn't good for it. I think now it is about washed out though. 

About that clipping you sent. Since you've read it in the paper, I'll you what happened.

The was an A.D. (Attack Douglas) "guppie," which means it was equipped with radar and sonar gear and used mostly for hunting submarines. And when a sub is found, some other plane moves in and kills it.

I know the pilot pretty well. We call him "Buck" Rogers and he is one of the best we have. There are very few pilots who could have gotten it off the water. In fact, the air officer passed the word that a plane was in the water. It was dark (about 4:00 in the morning) and snowing, so nobody could see there hand in front of their face. We turned on the crash lamps but about five minutes later, he radioed back that he was O.K.

The reason it all happened was because of a faulty holdback on the catapult. We had him set up on the "lot," ready to send off and his engine was supposed to be turning up to 45 hundred RPMs, but when it got to 23 hundred RPMs, the holdback broke and off he went. And believe me, we we were "sweating" for awhile.

[Editor's note: Click on this link for a declassified internal Naval document detailing the accident, which took place February 2, 1952 and is described in "Part 2, Chronological Order of Events." "Buck" Rogers' real name was Lt. Commander W. H. Rogers.]

Rogers was a lieutenant at the time, but when he came back, they made him Lieutenant Commander. The admiral said any pilot who could do that deserved another rate, so he got it.

Norma, I started this letter about 4 days ago, but I didn't get to mail it or finish it if I had had a chance to mail it.

It is 10:15 now, we got came off the flight deck. We've been flying since 4:00 this morning.

Norm, I'm so tired I can't hardly see the paper I'm writing. We've been flying 18 hours per day since the 3rd of March, but tomorrow is refueling day and maybe we can get some rest. That is, if the "Gooks" don't come over and cheat us out of that.

Norm, 70 knots isn't the temperature, it's the speed of the wind. If the ship is going 30 MPH and the wind is blowing 50 knots across the bow, that would equal 70 knots of wind, or velocity, and it is pretty much a gale. In fact, you're pretty lucky if you can stand up in it.

No, they don't keep the mail on board until we enter port. It goes off on refueling days, which is every 4 to 10 days.

So, you got three letters from me and want to kiss me for it, "eh?" Well, just hang on until I get home.

Well, Norm, I've got to sign off before I fall off this seat.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Thinking Of You On Valentine's Day

February 14, 1952

Thursday night

Whitman's Sampler print ad, ca. 1952, featuring Elizabeth Taylor

Hi ya Norma,

How's the cutest little girl in all Detroit? I didn't get a letter from you last mail-call day, but I was wondering what you are doing tonight and decided to write you.

"Boy," we've been lucky the last three days. Day before yesterday, the weather was real bad over the target area and we didn't launch a plane. Yesterday, we refueled and couldn't fly and today we launched one strike this morning, then the "ceiling moved in" (weather got bad) and we didn't fly at all this afternoon. We landed the morning strike in a snowstorm and one of them cracked-up, but it wasn't very bad, thank goodness.

Did I tell you about one of our heroes who sat on a burning gasoline tank to put it out? The guy can't sit down yet. He said, "Sitting on a burning gas tank was alright at first, but it will get you in the 'end'." 

Do you ever hear any "Hank Williams" records (he is a hillbilly singer)? [Editor's note: this link goes to Hank's "Hey, Good Lookin'," a song Jim used to sing around the house.] I used to like him when I was home. Well, anyway, I read in a newspaper (from the States) that his wife had divorced him and had sued for almost a half million "bucks." I didn't know hill billy singers made that kind of money. When I get out I think I'll get a guitar and start singing. I'll be able to retire when I'm thirty.

Tomorrow is my anniversary again. I've been in the Navy 13 months. In one way it doesn't seem very long and in another way, it seems like years.

I've got 35 months more to do and I hope I don't have to do much more of it over here.

I wish I could think of something to write about, but out here it's the same old routine all the time. Nothing ever happens very exciting. Those crack-ups used to be, but now they are nothing but all in the day's work. In fact, they are a nuisance.

There is a guy sitting right below me playing a steel guitar. He is pretty good with it.

We're going back to Yokosuka in about a week, but this time I don't think I'll go ashore very much. Those "gook" towns all smell alike and I don't like the stink.

Well, Norm, I got to sign off now.

Answer soon.

Your pal,

Jim (Gym)

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The "L" Word

February 9, 1952

Saturday night

Vought F4U-4 Corsair fighters of U.S. Navy fighter squadrons VF-114 Executioners (V-4XX) on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) during the Korean War in 1951/52.

Hi Norma,

I just got your letter this morning and since this is the only chance I'll have to answer it anytime soon, I had better do it now.

I guess you haven't heard from me in more than a week because I haven't written. I've been too busy. If I have more days like the last, I will make plans for burning my I.D. card. "Boy," they have been miserable. Cold weather has been the least of our troubles. We've had crack-ups, lost planes in the drink, and had them shot down. It is getting to be too much. We've been on the flight deck from 16 to 20 hours each day for the last 4. To give you some idea of how we've been catching "hell," we've even had 3 helicopters shot down. But I suppose I can't kick. I'm still O.K. Just plenty lucky, I guess.

I sure will be glad when we go back into port. I can really use a rest.

"Yes," I like that song "I Can't Help It." Also, I haven't heard it since we left the States. The first time I heard it was in Vancouver, Canada last summer.

No; we haven't had any more storms "thank goodness." I think a storm would just about finish us all off.

I didn't tell you about the worst crack-up, did I? It was a real dilly.

A "Corsair" (light fighter-bomber) was taking off when his engine cut out. He tried to "ditch" it in the water, but it landed on a 5 inch gun mount on the side of the side. The plane had one 1000 pound bomb and 4 smaller ones and the gun was loaded. Then, the whole damn works caught fire. I didn't think of those bombs until everything was over. If I had, I might still be running, but we were lucky again. None of them went off. The pilot jumped over side and the helicopter picked him up. He was burned some, but not too bad. "Oh, well" that's enough of our grief.

That place where you work must have trouble keeping girls, but there is one thing for sure with all you girls there, they wouldn't have trouble keeping me.

Yes, I used to be a member of good standing at Gilead, but now I don't know. They may have disowned me. Yes, I got a package from the Y.P. [Young People's] Dept.

Sure, it's O.K. with me to put my name on the Grace Class if your mother wants to. I would feel honored.

Well, Norm, I better sign off now.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Fighting The War In Paradise

USS Valley Forge

Nov. 9, 1951

Bird of Paradise Theatrical Half Sheet, ca. 1951

Hello Norma,

I got your letter a couple of days ago and was real glad to hear from you.

I'm still in the Hawaiian islands and it gets hotter all the time.  The only time it ever cools down is when it rains which is about every other day at this time of year.

You asked if I was working hard.  Not hard, just lots.  One day we worked 23 hours without knocking off and believe me, I was tired.

Last week, we lost two pilots and five planes.  

I always wondered how it would be to watch a man die, so now I know.

If you will excuse me the expression, it sort of reminds me of killing hogs back home.  I think everything has a right to live, but if someone has to die, better him than me.  And we can't let those things bother us.  If we did, we would go "nuts."  Within a couple of days after it happened (the crack up), we had forgotten about the whole thing.

Did you see the movie "Bird of Paradise?"  I went to the place where it was filmed.  It is a beautiful place with lots of volcanoes around.  [Editor's note: there are two films entitled "Bird of Paradise." One was filmed in 1931 and stars Joel McCrea, but I think Jim is referring to the version released a few months before this letter and starring Jeff Chandler.]

It's hard to explain what I do.  I could be truthful and say "nothing," but I am supposed to repair tow-bars, the ones we use to pull planes around on the deck.  There isn't much work, it's the hours that get us down.

Norma, anytime you want to use strong language in your letters, go ahead.  I like for people to tell me what they think and, besides, I'm a good listener.

I got an invitation to Hannah and Chuck's wedding, but I don't think I'll be able to make it.  HA! 

Tell them I wish them all the luck in the world.  

No, I never hear from Phyllis (M______ is her last name).  She may be married for all I know.  I don't know and care much less.  

Well, kid, I'll sign off.

Answer real soon.

Your mate,

Jim.

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