Feb Thru June 1944

Letters were few and far between.

12:30 AM March 9, 1944

Hello Darlin’:

Darling you have such a nice voice. I sure was good to hear it again. I know how my letters and and I know there haven’t been very many. I will try to do better in this one. It is a funny feeling to have when you know that someone beside you will get to read them.

I can’t begin to tell you how I feel about not being able to come home, but if you feel anywhere near the way I feel, it isn’t so good. If I don’t do so good at making love to you in this letter, I will sure make it up to you in June.

I saw the big dipper tonight, right after I called you, for the first time since I left. It sure seemed good and sent sort of a warm feeling down my spine. I remember the last night we saw it just before I left home. It was on top of the hill by the state house. I don’t think I will ever forget that night. When I look in your eyes, I could see my whole life centered around them in your sweet face in your curly hair. It seems funny and odd that I can be away from you so much and still love you more and more every day. Every time I saw something new, I would think how swell it would be to have you with me to see it. When you pass under the Golden gate Bridge, it gives you a funny feeling in your stomach. You wonder if you’ll ever get to see it again and the things you have built your whole life on. Going across, I spent more of my spare time studying and working in the machine shop. Sometimes I would go out on the deck and catch the sunset. Again the thought of you would come into my mind. The sun sets out here are just about the most beautiful thing to look at there is. Only one thing I would rather look at and that is you. Once in a while you could see a school of porpoises playing in the water, or schools of flying fish and even a lot of sharks. One evening I was laying up in the bow and watching the sunset when we ran up on the school of sharks. About all the three went right out of our away. The three that stayed there for a while reminded me of the times we have driven in the country and a rabbit or a chicken would cross in front of us and try to make up its mind which way to go. Finally they turned out of the way.

On 25 December and the 1^st of January I was more in the dumps then I ever was in my whole life. I do remember the time on New Year’s Eve, I worked for about 15 minutes trying to find out what time it would be at 12 AM in Des Moines. It was 6 PM where we were. I came up and took your picture in my hands and kissed the glass again and again. I sure miss your loving and kissing now more than ever before because I will have to wait until June for it again. We crossed the equator on the 29^th. There I got my initiation including having my head saved. My hair is about 1 1/2 inches long now.

Our first stop was Noumea, New Caledonia. It is a French colony and also has a lot of tickets.

Fun fact:  Naval Base Noumea became the main fuel oil storage depot for the fleet from 1942 to November 1944. The tank farm had storage for 30,000 barrels of fuel oil and 20,000 barrels of diesel. US Navy and United States Merchant Marine tankers brought 225,000 barrels of fuel oil to be stored at Noumea on the Ducos Peninsula.

There isn’t very much there. I went swimming a couple of times. The reason I didn’t go anymore was that I got tangled up with something of a fish and I got four cuts on the back of my hand and or more on my foot. They were just scratches and are all healed up now.

After we left Noumea, we went to Guadalcanal with a convoy. It took us five days. We didn’t get to go ashore. From Guadalcanal, we went about fifteen miles to Tulagi Island. We pushed into the dock for three days and then right out again. I got to go to shore once. The rest of the time we were taking on fresh water. From Tulagi, we went to the Russel Islands. I was sure worried when I saw the number of islands there were. We went to the big main one so I felt a little better. The first engineer gave me some time off to look for Dick. There were about twelve different units, so it was quite a job. I started walking and got myself into some real mud. I walked knee-deep in it to several of them going to the main tent where the records are kept of the fellows in each outfit. I came to one and I was beginning to get tired and disgusted and mosquito bites all over me. When I got to the tent, there was no one in it so I went through the files myself. No luck again. I sat down in a chair and what should I see hanging on the tent post but a walkie talkie telephone. I walked over to it and pushed the button and a boy says “Yes?.”  So I said “give me Acorn number nine’, and I got it.  I asked if anyone by the name of Dick Hare was in their outfit, the fellow look it up in their files. No luck. Well I called every unit on the island, with no luck. I tried another island right next to the one I was on. I ridden in just about every kind of vehicle the Army asked. I even rode in a captured Jap truck. I made an ashtray down in the machine shop out of some shells I picked up at the Russells. The wings and tail on the P38 are made out of some aluminum that came from a cracked up Liberator Bomber on the Russel Islands. 

Well Darling, it is getting late and I can hardly keep my eyes open. So I had better get some rest. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very very much. Good night darling. I have a date with the dream. Yes, you are always in them.

Good afternoon Darling. I just got off watch so I will have to hurry a little bit to get this in the mail. I am going out to 3070 Jackson. I think we are shifting ship Monday to the southern part of California.  I will be on watch Sunday night, so will be Sunday morning that I have to call you.

I only received one of your letters today and also one from the folks. One from the folks at their telephone number in it. I will write again when I get back on board tonight. Okay? Okay!

Darling, I love you very much. That is about the only thing I can say.

Love & xxxxxx’s Y.F.H. Johnny

P.S. Tell your Mother hello for me.

Wed. March 16, 1944

Hello Darlin’:

If my writing is a little shaky, don’t blame me. The ship is rocking and vibrating quite a bit. The sea is rather rough. We are on our way down to the southern part of California to get our cargo.

I think I can finally settle down and start writing now. We didn’t get another fireman until just before we sailed and I was standing 16 hour watches.  I haven’t had time to even read the letters I’ve gotten yet. I think I have read two of them. I got off watch at 8 AM this morning and laid down after breakfast for 4 hours. It is about 1 P.M. now. I go back on watch at this afternoon.

It sure is cold out here off the coast. The air smells crisp and clean like is does in Des Moines on a winter morning.

That is a very good idea about a joint account. I think I would like that. If you should happen to need anything, you can still get the money out if you don’t have me there with you, if not just put it in your own name.

I was out to the house on Sunday when I called you. Your Special came after I called you. I also got one from the folks. I was a little disappointed in yours because you said you were going to send me some pictures in your new coat, all I got was a picture of Dick. Monday afternoon we were going to leave so I gave up hope. The 1^st Engineer came in and asked me if I knew anyone by the name of Drearrs, I said YES! It seems another Special had come so I took a taxi out and back. Darling, I sure was one happy fellow when I opened it and found those pictures. The letter was swell too.

I called Syd from the house on Sunday and he came right over. We went over to Kay’s and got her new camera and took some pictures. We will send them to you when he has them printed. I sure hope they come out good.

Darling, can you feel that steady rocking? Port to Starboard to port to starboard again. It is a funny feeling. We have the port hole closed so you can’t see the water line or the horizon. That makes the focsle seem like it is just swimming around. It is wonderful to sleep while it is rocking. It is like the ship is a small child and Mother Nature is rocking it to put it to sleep.

I sure wish it was about June 1^st, and we were on our way back and almost back to Frisco.

We should put into dock tonight on my watch. I don’t know what we will load or where we are going. I sure hope to see Dick if we go anywhere near him.

Well Darling, I’m afraid I will have to close for now. I have to write a letter to the folks and one to Syd.

I’m sending $300 to you, and $100 to the folks. It has been a long time since I sent them anything and you never know what to expect on these trips.

Darling, keep your chin up and I will be seeing you soon. I love you very very much.

Love & XXXX Y.F.H. Johnny

P.S. I am also sending a Hawaiian Dollar Bill.

Sat 2:30 AM March 18, 1944

Hello Johnnie:

Well Dear, and it has been five days since I heard from you, that being when your letter came. No mail from you since Monday. Must say, am kind of worried after you definitely said you would write again and you said on the phone the first time you would send some money. Will you certainly leave things hanging in midair for sure. I thought sure you would drop me a line Sunday after we talked. It’s kind of late I’m kind of ill at ease and as Mom won’t let me take a walk decided maybe I could calm down a bit if I wrote you. We got our back pay Sunday and I’m going to get the car fixed with mine. And I tell you I’m going to start driving to work? Well regardless, I am. I’m wondering if you are still in the states or have left already. When you come home, we are going to straighten some things out because this uncertainty is about to drive me insane.

Luise, (Elmer’s wife) called today and said she hasn’t heard from Elmer for three months. Maybe you will run into him out there somewhere.  Am wondering if you received my two letters written, as I have gotten them back. Am also wondering about a lot of things. I’m going out tomorrow night after work with some of the girls for a little while and as I will be late coming home, suppose about tomorrow night you will call. Just my luck.

Dick is still in New Hebrides and from what he says, will be there for some time. Remember he’s unit number 14. Maybe you will find him this time. 

Well strange as it may seem, it has taken me a long time to write what I have written, so I guess I’m sleepy enough to go to bed and go to sleep. Will finish this tomorrow, maybe. Good night my Honey. God bless you.

May 13, 1944

Hello Darlin’:

First of all I want to wish you a happy birthday. I wish I could have been there to spend it with you. I’m sorry not to have been able to send you something besides my love and this letter. That is the best I can do at the present. I will make up for it when we are together again.

This will be a boring letter, I know, under the circumstances I cannot do any better.

The weather has been rather warm. I still have a lot of heat ash. Whenever I start to perspire, the sweat comes out to the skin and seems to stop. It feels like a lot of needles sticking you. It feels like H….

We haven’t had an email yet so I don’t even know if mine are going out or not. It sure would be nice to get a letter from you. I sometimes wonder if you are just a dream instead of a real person. If we had some mail, I could find something to write about but as it is, I still can’t.

The Big Dipper is out every night now. It is really a site.

So far we haven’t been unloading very much.  So I don’t know how long it will take. I’m afraid the trip will be a little longer than I expected. That is one thing that is impossible to even guess.

I had been raising a mustache but I don’t know just how I’m coming along as yet. I will try to keep it at least until I get back.

I wish I could find something interesting to write about it of this usual blundering through a letter.

We been doing nothing but sitting here since we arrived. It gets pretty dog gone monotonous. Once in a while, you get a little excitement but not very often. The air is pretty hot in the daytime but cool and quiet at night.

I will sure be glad when we get out of this godforsaken place and start home. We can’t even go ashore here. We will probably be taking saltwater showers before long as our freshwater supply is getting low and we don’t know how long we will be here.

The Engine room has cooled off quite a bit now that will sitting still on long. It is about 107°

Well Darling, as much as I love you, I’m afraid I must close for now. Life will start all over again for us when I get back. We will make up for all of the things we have missed for such a long time. I love you very very much and I’m always thinking of you. I will write again soon.

Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Y.F.H. Johnny

May 26, 1944

Hello Darlin’:

Well here I am again, finally. I feel like a million and I also feel like a heel and a no-good son of a gun. I got off last night, rather while I was on watch night, a fellow brought down some mail for me from home. From from the folks and about five from you.

Here you are telling me how sorry you are that you didn’t write at such and such a time and that you will do better. Well I can tell you that I don’t deserve the letters I have gotten because I now have ten letters in front of me that I haven’t answered. You don’t have to forgive me unless you want to. I won’t say I will write every day. I promise I will do better and then when I get home I’ll make up for everything and I do mean everything.

My heat rash is a little worse now than it was. When I get to Frisco, I will take a couple of Turkish baths and sweat most of it out.

I been thinking a lot of just coming home instead of calling but I won’t for several reasons. 1, I don’t think I can wait that long to hear your voice, 2, it would be wasting some very very precious time, 3 I want you to meet me at the station. I would like to have you meet me at Omaha, but it would take too much gas and it would be best to drive up to the lake. I’m really getting homesick.

I’ll try to answer some of them before I’ve been out of there. I will have to get some more. I’m glad you finally got some mail for me. I know how it is not to get any word or something. There is one thing I especially like in your letters. That is pictures of you. It seems to bring you closer to me when I do get some. I sure like the one of you on that latter cleaning out the eve spouts. When I get mail from you, I must feel the same way you do. Yes, I saw the Big Dipper about 10 minutes ago. It is northeast of me.

Whether it is the second or third day I am home it doesn’t make any difference when we get married but it will be the soonest date we can. That is for sure. Have you told the folks check? I wish you would if you haven’t already. Please.

Just don’t you start worrying if our day will come or not. This time it can’t miss. You are on my mind all the time. You sure must be getting a lot of songs in the states. New ones, I mean. I haven’t heard about 90% of the ones you keep mentioning all the time. I sure like the idea of that Victrola.

You have been doing very well in your bowling scores. I wish I could do as well. You will probably beat me as usual. Golly, I can hardly hold you in my arms and carry you up to the house. Remember the day Nana, you and I went bowling? I couldn’t get hit the broad side of a barn door that night. I couldn’t beat either one of you. I sure love you a lot. You’re so adorable, sweet. I miss you more and more every day. Do you remember the night we went horseback riding? We went with Melvin Rygh, didn’t we? Those were sure the good old days. I remember the first night I met you. I wouldn’t come down the ramp at the library. Elmer and I jumped over the side. I’m sure glad I chose you instead of Rose Mary. I’d have been in a mess. I was really scared the first time I kissed you. When I did, I thought for a minute the bottom of the car fell out or at least I was getting struck by lightning.

When I get back I will take you down and tell you all about a steam engine. I used to think they were really big. You could almost shove one down our stack. We have eight fires going instead of one. When I get back, I’m going to try to squeeze you right through me. (again). It sure is a lot of fun, trying I mean.

In one of your letters you said something about coming out to Frisco if I am not able to come home. Well the fact is that my draft board is still in Des Moines. I’m going up and talking to them when I get back. I’ll be able to have at least 30 days off anyway. I haven’t heard that song “I Love you,” but you know I do. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXIXknT-iQ8 by Cole Porter) 

Yes, my hair has grown out. I’m even combing it now.

We must have quite a few bonds by now. T & T will be able to go to college at that. Say, just what do you mean by my “other little faults”?

I see those bowling scores of 147 and 136 but what is that 101 doing in there? You will have to do better than that. By the way, you had better have my golf clubs ready when I get there, and I’ll teach you how to play some. (Golf I mean)

Well Darling, I think I will have to close for a while. I will finish this after my watch. Okay? Okay! I love you very very very much.

Hello Darling: I just got off watch. It is a beautiful night out. There are quite a few clouds but every once in a while the moon sort of peaks through. I can’t find the Big Dipper although it is usually there and about this time of night. We are sure going to have a lot of fun looking at that big dipper when I get home. In all my life, I never needed anyone as much as I need you. This the thought of seeing you and talking to you makes me feel pretty good. This war is making as much a mess as it has out of the lives of so many people, is something I’m going to forget completely when I get home.

I love you so much, so very very much, that I can’t begin to tell you how much that is. When I get home I’ll be able to partly show you how much that is.

By the time you get this letter we should be on our way back. We have at least two more stops after this one, maybe three, and they should go a little faster.

Well Darling, I’m afraid I must close for now or I will have to send this by freight instead of airmail.

I love you more and more every day. 

Love & xxxxx’s Y.F.H. Johnny

PS Tell Mommie Hare and Miriam hello.

June 2, 1944

Hello Darling:

To begin with, I haven’t anything to write about but I do have some more letters to answer.

It is about 9:30, I think. I took my shower in saltwater because of the shortage of fresh water and shaved and eaten breakfast.  Now I’m trying to write to my one and only. That lake Toots was talking about sounds swell..  The fireplace is a nice idea but in the summer time it won’t do so good. The first part of your letter wasn’t what I expected. Now dog gone it, you are going to to many dances. I won’t even be able to keep up with you. I don’t know about those Air Corps cadets. Enough said the better.

I’m very anxious to hear those records. It is going to be wonderful to get back. I only hope it is not too warm. I’m getting a little tired of the heat. If it could snow in the summertime, it would be swell. We have had a little rain once in a while but it never rains long enough to do much good. The air at night is pretty cool and it is wonderful sleeping. If it wasn’t for having to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning, it would be swell.  It sure is hard to get the right sleep. It is impossible to get over six hours at any one time. Then you have to rush.

I guess I won’t be seeing Dick this trip either. I sure wish I could. I haven’t met anyone that I knew at home yet. I have met some fellows from Iowa though.

I have some more letters to answer of yours so I had better get on with them. This one was written May 2. I guess all of our hopes and dreams will have to come true next May. Maybe it will be T & T.  I know what you look like when you put your hair up but let’s just skip that for a while, shouldn’t we. (Just kidding). You look very sweet but that is all. I was sure and was talking to the natives. Rather, trying to talk to the natives. They think it would be terrible to live in the states. I asked the Chief if he would like to live in the states, he said “Olagoona Sig Maymia Toolaoalala histonaga allzam peeling   your goomoo”  “Lala mistag pasa.”  In English, that means no.  He said any place you can’t have all of the wives you want, is no good. Will will it took him almost 2 hours to tell me that.

The married women all have two have their heads shaved. The single ones don’t. If a native man wants a wife, he goes to the father of the girl and trades a pig for her. The women do all the work, including chopping down coconut trees, cooking, etc. etc. All the men do is learn to paddle their own canoe. I don’t know how to spell the word canoe but I mean a small boat that you paddle with the paddle. I guess I spelled paddle right.  It is wonderful the sense of value these natives have, one cigarette for a bunch of shells, one cigarette for a basket, one pig for a wife. I tried to find a pig to trade but no luck. I did get a lot of shells from one native. I brought them aboard with me and in a can and set it on top of my locker. The next morning I thought someone had dumped the garbage and anything else they could find into our focsle but I found out that the natives had forgotten to take the meat out of the shells and they had turned sour, in other words they stunk. I took them back to the natives. In the course of getting there I almost got thrown overboard twice. The crew didn’t know I had shells, they thought it was me. Then the C.B.’s on the island weren’t going to let me on shore. I finally persuaded them to let me come ashore because no one would come close enough to try to stop me. I got to the native village and went straight to the complaint department. This native told me to take the shells down to the beach and bury them three feet from the 103rd coconut tree on the sunrise side. After finally finding the tree, I buried them. I was a little skeptical when he told me the spirits who carry the meat away, but after all he has lived on the island for a long time and he didn’t want to be impolite and tell him I didn’t think there were any spirits. The next day I went back to get them. What do you know, no coconut trees, no beach, no shells. I didn’t even know if I was on the right island let alone the right beach. Either the spirits or the C.B.’s had knocked down all the trees and pushed them down to the water covering the beach completely. Whichever it was, they sure worked fast. I was going to make you a necklace out of them too.

Jeepers, I thought I was answering one of your letters. PS.  Back to the letter. That is nice of you with Mom to the banquet. It does give you a swell opportunity to tell her that little something.

I’m glad that April 12 letter got there. I don’t have anything to do with mailing them. They are censored right on board. By the way Jane, I’d like you to meet Mr. Morley. (Side note: Hello Jan, I’m from Indianola, not far from you. Lt. Morley). He is the Navy Gunnery Officer aboard and also the fellow who sensors my mail.

I just threw a match out of the porthole, there were two natives in a little outrigger coming up towards the ship. I would like to have one of those little canoes but I would have to take the native too, so I can’t see any sense in taking him with me unless I wanted to start a sideshow.

Well Darling as much as I love you, I am afraid I must close, besides Mr. Morley is probably getting bored. I will see you soon, and I love you very much.

Love & xxxxxs Y.F.H Johnny

June 5, 1944

Hello Darlin’:

Well, it won’t be long now, we are all through unloading. The weather is perfect today. It is raining like the devil out. I have my pipe and a cold coke to go with it. Did I tell you I had quit smoking cigarettes? Well if I didn’t ~ I have quit.

I was out on deck today and had my shower. It is the first fresh water shower I have had in over two weeks.  You really begin to appreciate them now. Dog gone this coke sure tasted good. I haven’t had one for about one week now. My supply is getting rather low.

I found out today that I can tell you where I’m at. I’m in the ____ Islands (NOTE: the name of the island was cut out of the letter by the Naval Censor) somewhere. I can’t tell you which one though.

Well, how is my ‘pin up’ girl? Fine, I hope. I still have some letters of yours to answer so I had better do that, then maybe I can find something else to write about. (I hope). We have been aboard almost 4 months. I did think we would be back before this, but that is something you can never tell about. We have to sign articles for a year. If the ship wants to stay out for a year it will and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It has been almost a year and a half since I’ve been home. That is just a little too long. We will have to hope for next May. No I haven’t heard “Long Ago and Far Away”  (Dick Haymes & Helen Forrest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e1mLKyzeDw)

It is a very nice title. You really must have had some rain if Euclid is flooded again. I don’t know about this war causing so much bad weather, we have had clear weather every day up until today.  Yes, I remember ‘By The Light of the Silvery Moon. I would like to have some of your potato salad. I also would like some of you. That is swell about your raise. No, I haven’t heard “I’ll Get By”  (Bing Crosby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF7SzRyp5H0)  .  When you blew out the candles on that birthday cake of yours, I know what that wish had better have been.

Well Darling, I’m all caught up on answering your letters.

I have a little good news for you now. We are all secured as far as the hatches are concerned, the boilers are both going with full steam and we are waiting for sailing orders.  We are going back to where Dick is supposed to be and from there we head home. (I hope).

Well Darling, I think I will sign off until tonight after watch. Okay? Okay! I love you with all my heats and soul.

Hello Honey:  Well we haven’t left as yet but it shouldn’t be very long from now. I received two more letters. One from you and one from the folks. Your letter is a very nice one but it makes me feel kind of low because you are a little downhearted yourself, but everything is so mixed up and uncertain.  I don’t remember saying anything that should have been censored.

I can’t think of any suggestions for our getting married except that we should get married. There is one thing you must remember and that is that we can’t plan on anything but marriage right at the present time. This war may be over tomorrow or it may last several years. There is one thing that this war has done. I’ve changed my mind about a lot of things. My view points, my ideas, my wants.  Since I wrote that last line, I have reread your letter six times and I still don’t know quite how to go about answering it. I wish I could write what is in my heart but it just seems to be sealed up inside of me. Maybe it will break loose when I get back,

I love you and you alone. I miss you more than thought possible.  I will write again soon.

Love & xxxxx’s  Y.F.H Johnny

PS. Be seeing you soon.

(We are sure Janie wondered just how soon, “seeing you soon” would be)