Whaleboat on the Delaware River

On October 10, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Lester describes his first experience with the diesel engine whaleboats. He would become very familiar with these boats–perhaps too much so in the days to come.

The photos in this post all come from the USS North Carolina World War II museum in the Wilmington harbor, a fascinating place to visit for anyone in the area.

Saturday Night. October 10, 1942

Dear Folks,

What is everyone doing? I’m in the duty section this week-end so I’m staying aboard tonight. I guess I have told you that I am in the auxiliary crew. We don’t have to stand any watches yet but we have to stay aboard so they can call us if we are needed. The chief in charge of the engine and firerooms asked me if I wanted to get out of the auxiliary into a fireroom but I didn’t think I wanted to change. I’ve spent quite a bit of time learning my job and I didn’t want to have to learn another new one so soon. He changed some of the others without asking them and they didn’t like it very well at first but they really have it easier where they are now. Haring got changed to one of the firerooms.

I have a Jewish buddy that I run around with. We work together nearly all the time. His name is Joe Feingold. He is a second class motor machinists mate so he has charge of the diesel boats. I am the only other one in the auxiliary gang with diesel experience or school so will probably help with the boats.

A whaleboat such as the one Lester mentioned in his October 10 letter. This one is on display on the deck of the USS North Carolina museum, Wilmington, NC.

Four of us, two coxwains, Feingold and myself, took one of the boats today and went up the river to town. I had never run the boat before so I took care of the engine.

The boats are steered by a coxswain who handles the rudder. He rings a bell to signal to the engineer. One bell means go ahead slowly, two means stop, three means reverse and four means full speed. I enjoyed it a lot. Some places the water was a little rough, but not bad. The waves weren’t over a foot high. The most fun was when we would meet another boat and their waves hit us. We always headed into a large wave so it wouldn’t come over the side and swamp us. When we hit a large wave it would pick us up then drop us. We planned on going out all afternoon but we had to bring the boat aboard after dinner so didn’t get to go.

I don’t know why my letter was so long in getting to you. Yours usually get here in two days though it sometimes takes longer.

I lost my watch tonight but it was my own fault. I had taken it off in the washroom and was washing when chow call blew. In my hurry I forgot to pick it up. A bunch of apprentice seamen came aboard this evening and some of them came in just as I left for the mess hall. I didn’t miss it until I had finished supper but it was gone when I got back there. If some of the older crew had found it, they would have turned it in and I could have claimed it. It may turn up yet.

How is the scrap drive turning out back home? You should see the junk that is piled up in the streets here in Philly. They had a big drive for scrap and there is sure lots of it. It has been accumulating in the streets for almost two weeks.

Yes I got the cake from Frances okay. It was mashed a little but it was still fresh–and good!

Yes the trains are crowded and so are all other means of transportation. Quite often I stand up because I haven’t learned to shove quite as well as most of the people here. I also don’t like to occupy a seat when some ladies have to stand. Men around here wouldn’t stand for their own grandmother. Sometimes I feel like knocking their teeth out for them.

There aren’t any mountains around here or on the way to Washington. There were some hills but no mountains. I did see some mountains around Johnstown in western Pennsylvania as we came from the Lakes. They weren’t very large though. Yes, Philly is on the Delaware river. I don’t have a map either so I don’t know much about the size of the states or the route I traveled.

(Sunday night)

I didn’t get to finish this last night so will try again tonight. We fueled ship today for several hours. A tugboat brings the oil barge alongside then the oil is pumped into our tanks. No smoking is allowed while fueling ship. Wednesday we are to go down the river for a trial run. It lasts only a day, tho.

I’ll have to close now.

Love to all.

Lester

October 5, 1942

On October 6, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Monday night October 5 – 1942

Dear Folks.

Have you had any snow yet? I suppose not but everyone has mentioned how cold it has been, I was just wondering. We are having rainy weather here but one nice thing, we don’t have to wade around in the mud. Most of my time is spent below decks so the rain doesn’t bother much. Frances spoke about you shocking corn. How much did you cut? Did you sow any wheat this fall? Have the leaves started to fall yet? They are dropping here but they haven’t colored much yet. On my trip to Washington I noticed a number of pretty red trees, something like sumac but larger. This should be pretty country when the leaves do start to turn. People talk about the wasteland in Kansas but there is five acres of marsh and wasteland back here for every one at home. The corn doesn’t look as good as ours either. The corn shocks don’t look big enough to stand but I guess they do. The rivers are larger than the Neosho but they aren’t all timbered. Lots of the hills are covered with trees.

: Corn crop in early summer on the Kansas farm of Lester’s childhood.

I saw a show the other night that I wish you folks could have seen too. It was a marionette show and it was really good. One of the marionettes played a toy piano and even turned the pages of music. One couple did a dance together and lots of other numbers that I can’t remember. Near the end of the performance the top curtains were drawn so we could watch the three men and a woman who manipulated the strings on the marionettes. They really have to have nimble fingers.

We aren’t allowed to write, keep or possess diaries anymore in the navy. I just thought I would mention it as some one might be planning to send them to some of the boys. I don’t know if that affects the army boys or not.

I bought myself a belt knife when I was in town Saturday. I looked all over town before finally finding one like I wanted and had to talk the salesman into taking it out of his show case. I was in the machine shop Sunday, sharpening it when a couple of the officers came in and saw me so they had to sharpen theirs too. They are really a swell bunch of men. Today while some of us were in the shop a call came over the speaker for Lieut. McKinsey to please report to the quarter-deck. Without looking up, I remarked to the other fellows, “now that’s funny, they never say please to me, it just, ‘Harris, report to the quarter-deck, on the double’”. When I looked up, there was an officer, smiling at me. Boy, I was sure glad he was smiling.

It is time for lights out and I’m sleepy so guess I better sign off.

Love to all.

Lester

A knife Lester carried in 1942.

Visiting Friends from Home in the Nation’s Capital

On September 29, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Lester with his 7-year-old brother Paul.

Tuesday evening September 29 – 1942

Dear Paul

I enjoyed your letter very much and I can imagine that you had a lot of fun on your train ride and at the fair too. My train ride to Washington was fun but coming back it was very chilly on the train. I never did get to see the white house as it rained nearly all the time I was there. I had quite a time to find a room but another sailor and I finally got a room together. It is almost impossible to find a place to stay in Washington.

After getting the room I called the girls at Mrs. Eaton’s. Irene answered the phone but she didn’t know who I was. Mrs. Miller had told them that I had asked for Anne’s address but they weren’t really expecting me. I talked to all of the girls for awhile but didn’t go out to see them as it was raining. Irene and Anne were going bowling while Alice was expecting a call from another boy. Alice had to work on Sunday so Irene, Anne and I planned to see the sights, go to dinner then pick up Alice after work and go out to Cobbs.

The next morning it was still raining so we cancelled the tour. I went out to the house about two o clock to get the girls. Who should open the door but Alice. She had gotten off work at noon. It wasn’t raining right then so Anne took a picture of Irene, Alice and myself. On our way out to Cobbs, it started to rain. We were riding the street car but got off so that Ann and Irene could buy a couple of umbrellas. We finally got out to where Cobbs live. They live about fifteen miles from where the girls stay. We rode the last ten miles or so on the bus. Walter lives about half a block from the end of the bus line.

When we got there it was raining cats and dogs so the bus driver let us off right at the gate. We ran up on the porch but the door was locked. It was only a small porch and the wind blew the rain right in on us. I went around to the back and the door was open so I called the girls and we went inside. Our shoes were wet so we took them off and left them on the kitchen floor. I forgot to tell you that no one was home.

The bus had already gone and it was half an hour until the next one so we made ourselves at home. We closed the windows for them then made ourselves at home. They had some Cappers Weekly and Kansas Farmer papers which we enjoyed. We missed the first bus but Walter and Mildred came soon after the bus went so we were glad that we missed it. They were surprised to see us and especially to see me. Floyd Cobb had been with them but he joined the navy on Wednesday. We left them about a quarter til seven, went downtown and finally found a place to eat supper, then went to the show “Holiday Inn”. We saw the Three Little Pigs too. I think it was the same as you saw in Council Grove. We got out of the show at midnight so I took the girls home. It was one o’clock when I started back to the station. I got on the train to leave at one fifty but it didn’t leave until three. The train was so cold I couldn’t sleep and it was after six when we got into Philadelphia. I came on board at a quarter til seven.

Lester and high school classmates. Alice is in the upper right hand corner.

Mom, you asked what I could use for Christmas. Well I can buy nearly all my clothes cheaper than you can but I could use a pair of black leather gloves. We don’t have to conform so closely to regulations now. Also I could use a thin, small pocket knife to carry in my dress clothes. My whites fit so tight that I can’t carry a regulation knife. All of us are supposed to carry sheath knives. Even the captain carries one on his belt. I can buy that myself, though. It looks as though we will be getting winter clothing after all. We were told we wouldn’t need any woolens but I think we will be getting some. The woolen sweaters cost two dollars which is less than you would have to pay, I imagine. I had my shoes half-soled and heels put on for a dollar and a half a pair. The laundry has finally started to function so I don’t scrub many clothes any more.

Mom, I don’t suppose I’ll get off to get a present for your birthday but I’ll be thinking of you and I wish you many more happy birthdays.

You mentioned that the club intended to send packages to the boys. May I suggest that they don’t send food unless it is certain to be delivered immediately as it would no doubt be stale by the time the boys would get it. Probably most of the boys would appreciate cigarettes as much as anything. There really isn’t much we need. What do you folks want for Christmas? You know, I believe I would rather have a shower of letters than any gifts the community might send. It wouldn’t cost them much and would be a lot of fun for me.

It is getting rather chilly back here but not too cold. I like it better than when it is so hot.

I forgot to mention the states I went thru over the week-end. I was in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. In the buses in Virginia there was a sign directing all negroes to sit in the rear of the bus and whites in front.

I can’t think of anything else right now so will write again later.

Love to all.

Lester

P.S. I won’t be able to send you a picture of me in whites as we are wearing blues all the time for liberty now. Sorry.

Quick Note from the Nation’s Capital in 1942

On September 27, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

During a weekend liberty in the nation’s capital, Lester jotted a quick note home on a picture postcard of the Lincoln Monument.

September 27, 1942

8 p.m.

Hello folks. Does it always rain in Washington? It was raining when I arrived last night and it is still raining at noon today. I talked to Anne Miller and the Dohring girls last night. We are going out to Walter Cobbs this afternoon if we can. Haven’t been able to do any sightseeing yet except close to the capitol. It is very difficult to find any kind of a room here. Quite a busy place.

Love to all

Lester

Commissioning of the Ship

On September 17, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

It was interesting to find photos from the actual commissioning ceremony of the USS Gherardi. I looked to see if I could find Lester among the faces, but wasn’t able to identify him. He does say that the ship is very crowded, so it is likely that only part of the crew is visible in the photos. The ceremony took place September 15, 1942, which was the 17th birthday of Lester’s little brother. No wonder Wallace didn’t hear from him for his birthday.

September 17, 1942

Dear Folks.

I received your letter today and am glad to hear from you. Thanks for sending the addresses, I will probably go to Washington on my first week-end. I didn’t know that Alice and Irene were there. I came out on liberty tonight, partially because I would have had to work if I had stayed on board ship.

We are living on the ship now as we moved on at four this afternoon, immediately after the commissioning ceremonies. There wasn’t much to that. We marched on board, the flag was raised, the anthem played, a short speech by an admiral, another speech by our captain, the guard was posted and it was finished. You have no idea how crowded it is but I guess we will get along okay.

We had to eat chow at the station as they didn’t have things ready for us in the galley. I put on a clean suit of whites then got drafted to carry some stores down in the hold so I missed out on chow. We were supposed to get some sandwiches on board but I didn’t stay for them. I left as soon as possible as I rated liberty and wasn’t supposed to have duty today. I wouldn’t have minded the work if I’d had on dungarees but I got my whites all dirty. I’m wearing my blues tonight and they are pretty warm.

I met a buddy on the street up town so we came over to the “y” for a swim and to write some letters. My address remains the same for awhile I guess.

I had a nice time over the week-end, or rather on Sunday as I didn’t go out til Sunday. I went over to Camden, New Jersey as I hadn’t been in NJ yet. As I was coming back just about noon I saw a friend “Jerry” on the sidewalk so I got off the bus and we ate dinner together. We were in school together but are on different ships now. We decided to come back to Philly to go on a tour of the historic places but Jerry had some friends that he wanted to see so he went to see them while I saw some more of the town.

We had agreed to meet at a certain corner and while I was standing there waiting for him, a couple of girls came up, inquired who I was amd invited me to go to their home. They were in the family that Jerry had gone to see and he offered to eat his hat if they could get me to come back with them. He didn’t eat his hat but they certainly didn’t let him forget his promise. We had a very good dinner then the mister took the two girls, Jerry and myself to the War show. It was supposed to be very good but we were disappointed in it. After we got back to their house about midnight we had waffles for supper. Boy were they good. She was a swell cook. All of them were nice and a lot of fun. We stayed and visited until two o’clock Monday morning!

It was three when I got back to the station. We had a terrible time getting on the bus because of the crowd. It was more like a bunch of animals than people. The bus driver had to separate two women who started to fight after one had crowded the other in getting on the bus. What a time.

Thanks for the clipping, mom. I had read it somewhere before and I thought it very good. Wallace, I thought about your birthday though I didn’t get to send you anything but I’ll say best wishes and many more happy birthdays.

Paul why don’t you write and tell me about your train ride? I’ll bet that it was fun. Every time I come to town I ride on the street car that wobbles from side to side. In Camden I rode on an electric bus. It was on rubber and was steered but got its power from a trolley line. Mom, there just aren’t any rocks in town back here and I don’t get a chance to go out in the country but I’ll keep trying.

Love to all

Lester

Quote printed on lower edge of the USO stationary: “Idle Gossip Sinks Ships”

September 10, 1942

On September 10, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Posted from:

LESTER F HARRIS F 1/C

U.S.S. GHERARDI

PHILADELPHIA PA.

September 10, 1942

Dear Folks

I received mom’s letter today, the one which you sent the fourth. It was over in the post office and hadn’t been put in with the Gherardi mail. Maybe you had better put USS Gherardi in the lower left hand corner so they will be sure to see it. I don’t like to have to stand in line for half an hour to get my mail which is what we have to do if we get it at the post office. Otherwise we get it at noon when we muster.

It has been raining a little today, not very much but enough that I wore my raincoat and rubbers. You may read my letter at club if you wish or any parts of it as you think best. There isn’t much more that I could tell now as I haven’t seen any other part of the city. The letter which I wrote to Mr. Stewart was really more for the public than yours. After this when I write about the places I have seen I’ll try to explain them more in detail. I told you nearly all about New York except that I had to get a shave Sunday morning as neither Haring nor I had taken a razor. Just a shave costs fifty cents and a haircut costs a dollar. Here on the station a haircut is a quarter and a shave fifteen cents.

I wonder if I could get a room in Washington if I go there. It would be kinda bad to get there and not be able to find a bed any place.

We started the ice machine yesterday so I have spent a good deal of time on board ship yesterday and today. It works just fine and is all automatic except for starting after the electric power fails. The power went off several times today, once for an air raid. It was just a test. Haring was outside when the alarm sounded and he said that it was only a few seconds before all the guns were uncovered and pointed skyward. They started putting stores—apples, potatoes, sweet corn and meat—on board and in the ice boxes this afternoon.

We have all of our officers assigned now and they seem to be a swell bunch. We haven’t met our captain yet but one of the other officers knows the captain and claims that he is a swell guy. He isn’t very old but has a lot of experience. We will have bag inspection a d draw small stores tomorrow. Guess that’s about all the news for this time.

Love to all

Lester

September 5, 1942

On September 5, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

U.S.S. Gherardi

September 5 – 1942

Dear Folks,

I’m having quite a time to keep all of my mail answered so I’ll answer mom’s and Wallace’s letters together. Thanks for the card, Paul, it is very nice. I received four letters yesterday and two more today. I answered two of them last night but I still have several to write.

Sunday

Mail room on a lower deck.

I’m having a terrible time to get any letters written as I can’t think of anything to write about. I haven’t been out on liberty since a week ago when I went to New York. I went to church this morning and stayed for the broadcast by Horace Heidt and his troup. It was called “The Treasury Hour”, sponsored by the Treasury and devoted to selling war bonds. They read letters from boys in different camps all over the country The strange part of it was that every letter asked the people to buy more bonds. At the start of the program it was announced that they were playing before a crowd of 5,000 sailors. He must have been seeing things because there were only about five hundred of us there. I guess five thousand sounded better.

Is Anne in Washington, D. C. now? If she is there, I’d like to get her address as I think I’ll go and see Washington while I’m here. If you could get Walter Cobb’s and Annie Millers addresses without too much trouble, I’d like to have them also. Are there any others there whom I should know? It isn’t too far from here.

I’m sure stiff and sore today from the exercises that we had yesterday. We take them only about three days each week, just often enough to keep us sore.

I went to the show tonight, “The Chocolate Soldier”. I thought it quite good.

Did you get the mattress I sent home? I couldn’t take it on board ship and I didn’t like to just throw it away. I’m sending you two dollars to pay for the express charges. If it cost any more, let me know.

I can’t think of anything more to write so will close for this time.

Love to all

Lester

Lester, and probably most sailors, visited the ship's post office frequently. — Lester, and probably most sailors, visited the ship’s post office frequently.

New York, New York!

On September 1, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Tuesday noon

September 1 – 1942

Dear Folks,

Well I went to New York City this last Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t like it too well but it wasn’t so bad either. Haring and I went up Saturday evening and stayed until Sunday evening. After getting out of the station we started walking toward the central part of town which is 7^th Avenue and 42^nd Street. We had walked up to Fifth Avenue when it started to rain. We stopped in a doorway for about fifteen minutes while it really rained.

Haring was disappointed with the city already and was about ready to go home but I wanted to visit The Stage Door Canteen so we started hunting for it. After inquiring about a half-dozen times we finally found it down in a basement. That part wasn’t so bad as a great deal of New York is underground. As we entered we were given a ticket for a lunch. The floor was crowded with the service men and girls, a few of whom were dancing. We didn’t think much of the place so left without getting any lunch.

We ate a lunch in a small restaurant then started walking again, just going with the crowds. I have seen crowds before but nothing like that one and that was a regular occurrence. We were waiting for the light to change and talking about which way we should go to get back to the train when a girl who was standing in front of us heard us talking and said to “come this way.” She was from Indiana and was staying in New York to visit her husband who is in the army. She claimed that she enjoyed the crowds so we walked around together for awhile then went to a show.

Haring and I decided to get a room for the night then go out to Coney Island on Sunday. We went out to Coney Island about noon and stayed until about five. It takes forty five minutes on the subway from the main part of town to Coney Island. I don’t like the subways because you can’t see anything but they are fast and cost only a nickel to ride. That was my first ride on the subway.

Mom, I tried to find a rock for you but there just weren’t any. The beach is of fine white sand but no rocks. Coney Island is just one enormous carnival with every kind of ride and concession stand imaginable. They had a parachute drop where people were pulled to the top of a high tower then released and lowered by a chute. They were stopped just before they reached the ground and boy did they bounce!

We didn’t go on any of the rides as neither of us wanted to spend very much money. We spent most of the day on the boardwalk just watching the people on the beach. We didn’t have our swimming suits so couldn’t go on the beach. We walked out on the pier where lots of people were fishing but we didn’t see anyone catch anything. The waves make quite a bit of noise when they come in. The boardwalk is a wide wooden walk about ten feet above the beach. There were many boats and several ships on the ocean that day.

It wasn’t a great deal of fun just watching others play so we got on the subway and came back to Times Square. While we were in the station waiting for our train we were talking and wondering where to find it when a couple of ladies stopped and the older one asked if she could help us. We told her that we were trying to find the Philadelphia train. The younger lady said that she was going to Philadelphia also and invited us to ride with her. She was very nice. She is a subject of Canada but lives in Philly. She is married and has four children.

She invited us out to her home for dinner any time we wanted to come. We told her that we would accept the invitation the next time we have week-end liberty. We hadn’t had supper so when we got back to Philly we went to an Automat to eat. An Automat is a restaurant where you put your money in a slot in the wall and a little door opens so you can get your food. They are all right but no better than an ordinary café.

Last night I had to go to a football game at the stadium which is close to the station. A thousand of us had to go so the duty section was drafted. I didn’t care much about the game as I didn’t know either team.

I got a letter from Frances today but suppose she is home again by now. I’ll try to write to her tonight if I can but think I shall write to Mr. Stewart next. How is everyone getting along? Just about time for school to start, isn’t it? Paul, I was surprised when I was home at how well you could read. You must keep on studying good this year too. I am to have charge of the refrigerating system on board ship so I have to study too. I’m going to write letters all evening if I don’t get too tired. I have a lot of them to write.

Love to all

Lester

Letter from August 27, 1942

On August 27, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Lester’s days are filled with activities, learning his new job, and orientation on the ship. The discussion about his assignment is crucial to his future activities. Haring must have decided to hold out for a lifeboat assignment with the diesel engine training. Lester volunteered for the refrigeration crew when no others stepped up. This will prove important in days to come.

August 27, 1942

Thursday night.

Dear Folks,

I am over in the sail locker tonight and am not busy so will start a letter. I don’t work in the sail locker very much now as we have been going on board ship the past two days. It isn’t nearly ready to go but we go on board and look around to learn where things are at.

You have no idea how many men are working on her or how crowded it is. Everything is very compact. We were assigned to jobs today and it looks as though I would have to take care of the refrigerator system. That will be a good job but I was hoping to get on one of the lifeboats as they have the only Diesels there are on the ship. Haring, one other fellow, and myself are the only ones that know the Diesels but when they asked for refrigerator men, I was the only one that spoke up. Haring had it in school along with me but he slept most of that course.

I have been very fortunate in getting good jobs so I shouldn’t complain. Our ship is to be commissioned on September 15^th so I will start drawing sea duty pay then even though we won’t be going to sea for some time after that. Sea duty means an increase of twenty per cent in pay or about ninety-three dollars per month. That will be pretty good wages. My bond and insurance takes out twenty-two dollars every month.

We seem to have a nice bunch of officers, however we don’t have our captain yet. My chief seems very nice. He and I went aboard another ship today to look at her refrigerating system. I am on the auxiliary crew and we have charge of the upkeep of the refrigerating system, reducing valves, air compressors, the galley (kitchen), the laundry and the lifeboats. There are only eight of us including the chief so I guess we will have enough to do.

There are lots of airplanes flying around all the time, all day and part of the night.

Haring and I went on liberty together last night. We went first to a town shop where he had ordered a suit of tailor-made blues but they weren’t ready for him. I had a suit of dress blues cut down so they would fit me better and bought a suit of tailor-made whites. The whites cost five dollars. Regular issue whites cost a little over three dollars but they are worth the difference.

After we left the tailor we started out to find Independence Hall. On our way we heard music coming from someplace. As we crossed a narrow street, there was a merry-go-round mounted on a one-horse wagon. About eight or ten children were riding the wooden ponies. An old man, an Italian I think, was furnishing the motive power to turn the merry-go-round by operating a crank such as is on our corn-sheller. Men and women were crowded around to watch and listen to the music. I certainly never expected to see anything so old-fashioned back there though the whole town seems antique. This was out in the Italian settlement, in the older part of the city. The sidewalks are of brick or stone, rough and broken. Some of the streets are paved with wooden blocks, about four by six inches, set on end. They seem to make a good road. I think I have told you that the houses set right up to the sidewalk and are joined together. They have no lawns or separate homes. This is all the older part of town which I have been describing to you. As we walked along the sidewalk we could look right into their rooms. I wouldn’t like that, would you?

We continued our search for Independence hall. Finally we stopped and asked a cop where we could find it. He surprised us by telling us that we were looking at it right in front of us. It looked like a new building to me. It was dark by that time so I am going back to see it in the daytime and go inside. Haring and I are planning on going to New York this week-end so I’ll tell you what that little burg is like. We are going on the week-end so that if we get lost we will have time to get back. I must close now but will write again. Don’t forget to put my address as it is on the envelope.

Love to all

Lester

Weekend Letter from the Ship

On August 23, 2014 By AnnIn Family, LesterLeave a comment

Saturday night August 22 – 1942

Dear Folks

I received your letter today so will try to answer it. I got letters from you and Josephine and a card from Aunt Mabel. Josephine had written her letter the twelfth and sent it to the Lakes. I got it today. So you see that it is just as well that you didn’t write and send it to the Lakes. I wish we would have some cool weather as it is hot and sultry here. I’m getting used to my hot room so that it isn’t too awfully bad. Its nice that Josephine and Kenneth were able to visit Melvin though I was quite surprised since Mabel has just returned.

You said that dad and Wallace were helping Ross to thresh. It seems pretty late to still be threshing, isn’t it? I saw a few small fields of oats still in the shock on the trip back here. Yes, this has seemed like a long week though I don’t mind my work. In fact, I don’t have to do a great deal of work.

Dining area on the USS North Carolina

I get up at 0530, clean up, eat breakfast at 0615 and go over to the sail locker and stay until six or seven at night. I work from eight until ten and from one until three-thirty in the afternoon. We whip ropes and make eye splices in ropes and take care of the hammocks that the boys turn in after they scrub them. We take care of the hammocks all day long, whenever they bring them in. There are lots of dirty hammocks that are sent in from the barracks that no one claims so boys with extra-duty have to wash them. They wash about two hammocks apiece. One boy got into trouble of some kind and he has to scrub 52 of them. I’m sure glad I’m not in his shoes.

James Hedgepath has been quite fortunate in getting furloughs, hasn’t he? It seems that he has been home several times. Yes most of us are in good shape but I don’t know just where the credit should go.

It is surely too bad about Mr. Stewart and for the rest of the family too. I’ll try to write to him soon. I had been thinking about writing to Leslie but don’t have much to write about yet. Is Norma in Denver now? I suppose Carrie enjoyed her trip. It seems like there is lots of travel now.

Sunday night, August 23

I didn’t get to finish this last night so will finish it tonight. I went to church this morning and have been in the sail locker the rest of the time. Did you happen to listen to “We, the People” tonight? One of the fellows knows the three sisters who were first on the program so it was quite interesting to us.

Chapel area on the ship

My friend’s name is Haring. You see we were picked alphabetically for our jobs. He is on mess cook duty so I’m eating pretty good. He gave me an extra slice of ice cream today for dinner.

I will send Paul a picture folder as soon as I get a stamp. Must close now.

Ship's kitchen — Ship’s kitchen

Bread pans

Love to all

Lester