Because Of You

November 25, 1951

Sunday evening

Doris Day in a still shot from the movie, "Move Over Darling."

Hello Norma,

How are things around Detroit?  This leaves me O.K.

I should be on the beach today, but since it will be at least a week before I get a chance to write to you again, I thought I had better stay aboard and do it.

We shove off tomorrow for Japan.  We could make it in four or five days, but we're just going to fool around so it will take about eight days.

Some buddies and myself went out last night.  We went swimming, then stopped in for a drink and flirt with the women.  Some of the "gooks" didn't like the way we acted but there were too many of us (about seven) and the natives over here won't start any trouble unless they've got 2 to 1 odds.  So now I'm glad we're pulling out.  HA!  Those people are like elephants, they never forget a face.

I heard that bunch of draft-dodging basketball players from Gilead lost their first game, in fact, the first one of the season.  Those guys should get on a winning team, say the U.S. Navy, for instance.

Norma, you shouldn't have gone to the trouble of fixing a box for me, but don't think I won't appreciate it because I will.  It makes me think you're about the most wonderful gal I know.  Thanks a lot.

You said something about driving to Dot H_____'s house, have you got yourself a car already, or are you still driving your pop's?

If I'm out of the Navy by the time you learn to knit a pair of sox, I hope you learn fast because I sure would like to get out.   "Ah, yes," I wear a size 9 plus 2.  HA! Big, "eh?"

I like that song "Because of You" real well, too.  I think the record we have of it is by Doris Day. [Editor's note: Jim may have been referring to the recording by Gloria DeHaven and Guy Lombardo. I couldn't find any record of the song being recorded by Doris Day.]  There is a new hillbilly record out I like real well, too.  The name of it is "Travelers Blues." I just heard an "oldie" I like a lot, "My Darling," by Doris Day, I think.  [Editor's note: The title is actually "My Darling, My Darling" and was recorded by Doris Day and Buddy Clark.]

We just finished our inspection to see if we were ready to go overseas and our mark was "excellent," the best of any carrier in the fleet.  My department (the air dept.) got the best mark of any of the departments.  We landed planes, respotted them, and launched them faster than any other air dept. of any carrier this year.  I like to watch the boys of my division work.  We have really got teamwork.

I finally made a new rate.  I'm airman now, it's the same as corporal in the army.

No, I didn't know Eddie C__________, but I know Eddie C____ and I don't think he ever will get married.

Well, kid, I got to sign off now.

Answer real soon.

Your pal,

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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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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Fighting The War On The Way To Hilo Island

USS Valley Forge

Oct. 31, 1951

Rainbow Falls, Hilo Island, Hawaii

Hi Norma,

How are things in Detroit?

I tried to answer your  letter sooner but I've been real busy for the last two weeks, dodging propellers, jet blasts and shrapnel.  We're not killing time now like we were in the States, out here it's work.

We've lost two pilots since we've been here and a couple of guys on the flight deck got hit yesterday. 

You asked me if I were engaged.  The answer is no, who would I get engaged to over here, all I ever see are gooks and not very many of them.

You're darn right I'm a Chevy man, but if you buy a Ford, I'll let you drive me around anyway, if you want to.

I sure would like to know what was in the first letter you wrote me.  It must have been pretty good, or bad, if your mom wouldn't let you mail it.

We'll be pulling into port tomorrow, a place called Hilo Island.  I don't think it's much of a place, but at least it's land.

My division is having a party next Sunday.  The guys will probably have to bring me back in a sponge.  In fact, it's been so long since we've been out that most of us will have to be carried in.

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

Answer real soon. 

Your pal,

Jim

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Norma's Reply to Letter #28

1____ Omaha

Detroit 25, Mich.

October 16, 1951

 In this GM  Truck & Coach promotional photo, Intertown Suburban Lines coach #140 — a 1954 GM Model 

TDH-4512 — is headed west on Fort St. at Sixth while sporting the Intertown Suburban colors.

[photo courtesy of the Samuel Braxton Jr. Bus Photo Collection]

Dear Jim,

Received your letter yesterday and was very surprised to hear from you.

How are you?  I am just fine.

You wanted to know where I was when you were home.  Well, that Friday, Saturday & Sunday I was in Chicago.  And I never go on Monday night [Visitation Service at Gilead Baptist Churst], so how in the heck am I supposed to know if you are home.  Pray tell?  You could have told me you were coming here or called me for a few minutes but no, you didn't do either, then you start off this letter, "How's the only girl I love?"  Are you kidding?  Either you sent this letter to the wrong person or something?  Also, just to keep the record straight, I am going all the time.  I'm working 6 days a week and going someplace every night.  This is my first night home in over a week and I have to wash my hair!

When I saw you on Fort St., I thought for sure that you would call or come over or something, but I don't suppose that you had time for me. I would like to have seen you & had a chance to talk to you, but I guess that wasn't possible.  How long were you here & how did you come (by train, bus, etc.?)

While I'm on the subject of you!  What ever happened to that picture that you supposedly had made for me?  Just out of curiosity who did you give it to?  Every time that I I've asked you, you have ignored the questions!

I'll bet that you could easily wring my neck now, giving you such a bawling out, but how would you feel if you were me? All the time I was writing this, the paper was red instead of blue I was so mad.

###

[Editor's Note: This draft in Norma's handwriting was found behind Jim's previous letter in the packet from 1951 that she tied together with lace ribbons.  Knowing my mother, she would have taken her own advice and set it aside, then she would have written another letter that was less angry. 

In Jim's (limited) defense, when I first read his letter, I also thought it began, "How's the only girl I love?" because his handwriting is so darn bad.  On closer inspection, I think it actually says, "How's the only girl I have?" because the rest of the letter describes all of the girls who have gotten engaged since he was home last.  In addition, he has complained in many letters about the lack of correspondence from people he had hoped would write to him while he was away.  Over time, Jim would come to believe that Norma is the most trustworthy and reliable person he knew, but I don't think he'd come to that conclusion when he wrote his letter.

To be fair to Jim, their correspondence began with minimal contact between the two of them before he left for boot camp and Norma was, at the time Jim left Detroit, engaged to another man. However, at the time Norma wrote this draft, their correspondence had been going on for almost a year. She was understandably angry and disappointed that he didn't make arrangements to see her while he was on leave, regardless of whether his attentions were friendship or romantic.

I suspect this episode may have been a turning point in their relationship because of family stories about one trip in which Jim was so clueless that Norma considered ending their correspondence. When Norma told the story, she would work herself into a lather, much as she did in this draft.  Jim, as he listened, would give me a sidelong smirk and stay (remarkably, uncharacteristically) quiet.  He could be dumb sometimes, but he was no fool.]

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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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Down Mexico Way

USS Valley Forge

Sept. 16, 1951

Artwork from Jim's stationery, ca. 1951

Hi ya Norma,

Guess I'm behind a little in my letter writing, but I've been a pretty busy Sailor lately.

I lost the last letter I got from you.  I put it on my bunk and went away for a few minutes and when I came back, it was gone.

But I remember you said you took a shot for smallpox.  HA! Bet it's still sore.  Mine was for about two weeks.  I haven't gotten any since I came aboard ship, but I'll be getting them before long.

"Boy," things sure are dull around here.  There's isn't much for a Sailor to do in San Diego.  I've been in lots of towns on the west coast and Diego is the worst yet.  

I guess you're in church by now.  Sure wish I was there.  On the weekend is the only time I want to be home very bad.

I think I told you we were pulling out the last of September, but I don't think we will, now.  I think it will be the last of October.  

So, your girlfriend's husband got discharge, "eh?" The lucky swab. 

Today is my anniversary.  I've been in this Navy 8 months.  I've got 3 years & 4 months to go. Sounds like a long time, doesn't it?  Well, "by gosh," it is. HA. 

Do you ever hear anything about Larry T_____? Where he is stationed and what he is doing?  It seems I got a letter last week from someone in Detroit which said George S______ was being called in the 14th of September.   Do you know anything about that?  

I'm going to Mexico tomorrow night.  I haven't been there yet, so maybe I can tell you what the women look like when I get back.

Well, Little Mate, it's time for this old salt to sign off.

Answer soon.

Your sea-going pal, 

Jim

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