Feb. 24, 1944
Dear Folks,
There isn't much to tell since I last wrote you, but I'll try my best, Did you get my record yet. You'll pronably be pretty surprised where you hear it. When I first heard it I couldn't believe I sounded that way.
Well, we are starting to put the boiler back together. I always wanted to see what the inside of a boiler looked like, and I found out. When I first looked at the man hole (12" x 16") I didn't think it was possible for one to squeeze thru it, but I found it can be done with a little squirming. There are over 1000 tubes in the boiler ranging in size from 1" to 4 1/2"
After we get it back together we will give it a hydrostatic test by building up a water pressure 1 1/2 times the normal working pressure to test for leaks. We are docked at Treasure Island, the site of San Francisco's world's fair. It is situated in the middle of the bay between Frisco and Oakland. I must say the harbor of San Francisco is really beautiful. The Gold gate Bridge, seen coming into port around sunset, actually seem to have a golen glow to it. (I'm beginning to sound like the Calif. Chamber of Commerce).
In reply to your letter, I am not keeping adiary because it is again the rules for Naval personell to keep personla diaries in time of war.
Not much more towrite, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Sunday, February 24, 1974
Saturday, February 23, 1974
Postmarked February 23, 1944
Feb. 22, 1944
Dear Folks,
Got the money O.K. and I want to thank you a lot. It sure was a life-saver. Too bad I couldn't have had that 72 hour liberty in Norfolk instead of here so that I could have come home, but as it was I had a pretty good time. I made a record and you should be getting it soon. I couldn't believe it was me when I first heard it.
I'm glad to here that George was home on leave. It seems that he's gotten a couple of better breaks than I did but my time will come, I guess. I sure hope I meet up with him somewhere someday.
There isn't much more to write, and I am getting ready to go ashore to mail this, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Got the money O.K. and I want to thank you a lot. It sure was a life-saver. Too bad I couldn't have had that 72 hour liberty in Norfolk instead of here so that I could have come home, but as it was I had a pretty good time. I made a record and you should be getting it soon. I couldn't believe it was me when I first heard it.
I'm glad to here that George was home on leave. It seems that he's gotten a couple of better breaks than I did but my time will come, I guess. I sure hope I meet up with him somewhere someday.
There isn't much more to write, and I am getting ready to go ashore to mail this, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Tuesday, February 19, 1974
Postmarked February 19, 1944
Feb. 19. 1944
Dear Folks,
Got two letters from you yesterday and the package arrive O.K. about a week ago. I am spending my weekend here in Frisco. I slept here [Pepsi-Cola Center for Service Men and Women letterhead] and it was the first time this year that I slept ashore. I will try to call tomorrow.
We are really overhauling all the machinery in the fireroom before shoving off. We are repacking all the pumps and have the whole boiler apart and are cleaning out both the firesides and the watersides. It's a dirty job, but I don't mind it as it gives me a chance to see just how the boiler is constucted and to study all the parts and fittings. I spent most of yesterday cleaning out the inside of the tubes. We used a little air motor with a wire brush wheel which fits inside of the tubes. I personally think an electric motor with a flexible shaft would work out better, as I had to stop several times yesterday to blow out the dirt and scale from the air hose.
According to fairly reliable scuttlebutt rumors, we are shoving off for Pearl Harbor the 29th, but that is not certain.
So you were snowed in, eh? I sure would like to see some snow. It has gotten pretty cold here tho, I am wearing my peacoat for the first time since we came out here.
There isn't much more to tell, so I will close now and if I think of anything else I'll tell you about it tomorrow over the phone.
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Got two letters from you yesterday and the package arrive O.K. about a week ago. I am spending my weekend here in Frisco. I slept here [Pepsi-Cola Center for Service Men and Women letterhead] and it was the first time this year that I slept ashore. I will try to call tomorrow.
We are really overhauling all the machinery in the fireroom before shoving off. We are repacking all the pumps and have the whole boiler apart and are cleaning out both the firesides and the watersides. It's a dirty job, but I don't mind it as it gives me a chance to see just how the boiler is constucted and to study all the parts and fittings. I spent most of yesterday cleaning out the inside of the tubes. We used a little air motor with a wire brush wheel which fits inside of the tubes. I personally think an electric motor with a flexible shaft would work out better, as I had to stop several times yesterday to blow out the dirt and scale from the air hose.
According to fairly reliable scuttlebutt rumors, we are shoving off for Pearl Harbor the 29th, but that is not certain.
So you were snowed in, eh? I sure would like to see some snow. It has gotten pretty cold here tho, I am wearing my peacoat for the first time since we came out here.
There isn't much more to tell, so I will close now and if I think of anything else I'll tell you about it tomorrow over the phone.
Love to all,
Paul
Sunday, February 17, 1974
Postmarked February 17, 1944
Feb. 16, 1943 [sic]
Dear Folks,
We just pulled into Frisco last nite ending our shakedown cruise. We had an Admiral's inspection down in San Diego, but I got out of that since I was on watch in the fireroom at the time.
We will be pretty busy the next couple of weeks making minor repairs and adjustments before shoving off.
We ran into some pretty heavy weather coming up from San Diego, and we were rocking and pitching plenty. I came thru O.K. so I guess I am pretty salty after all. Those DE roll even in a light ground swell, so you can imagine how they are in a storm. We rolled 30 degrees once during the night, but they are supposed to be able to rol 70 degrees and come back right side up.
We have liberty this week-end from Friday P.M. to Monday A.M. and if we get paid I may go down to Los Angeles for the weekend. I am going to find out about train schedules tonite.
Love to all.
Paul
Dear Folks,
We just pulled into Frisco last nite ending our shakedown cruise. We had an Admiral's inspection down in San Diego, but I got out of that since I was on watch in the fireroom at the time.
We will be pretty busy the next couple of weeks making minor repairs and adjustments before shoving off.
We ran into some pretty heavy weather coming up from San Diego, and we were rocking and pitching plenty. I came thru O.K. so I guess I am pretty salty after all. Those DE roll even in a light ground swell, so you can imagine how they are in a storm. We rolled 30 degrees once during the night, but they are supposed to be able to rol 70 degrees and come back right side up.
We have liberty this week-end from Friday P.M. to Monday A.M. and if we get paid I may go down to Los Angeles for the weekend. I am going to find out about train schedules tonite.
Love to all.
Paul
Wednesday, February 6, 1974
Postmarked February 6, 1944
Feb 6, 1943 [sic]
Dear Folks,
Well, our shakedown is just about over and we will probably be heading back to Frisco soon. It has been pretty interesting, too we fired all the guns and torpedoes and simluated all kind of action. We had a touch of excitement too. The other day we picked up the pilot and gunner of a navy plane which made a forced landing at sea. Neither of them were hurt, and they were only in the water about an our. I'm sending Ralph a 1/1" anti-aircraft shell case I picked up during firing, I'm sure he will get a kick out of it.
The weather has continued to be swell and the seas have been calm. We had movies on the fantail last nite, as we do almost every nite in port. It isn't exactly like the Music Hall, we set up the screen over the depth charge racks and sit on buckets, hatch covers, or anything else handy.
Not much more to write, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Well, our shakedown is just about over and we will probably be heading back to Frisco soon. It has been pretty interesting, too we fired all the guns and torpedoes and simluated all kind of action. We had a touch of excitement too. The other day we picked up the pilot and gunner of a navy plane which made a forced landing at sea. Neither of them were hurt, and they were only in the water about an our. I'm sending Ralph a 1/1" anti-aircraft shell case I picked up during firing, I'm sure he will get a kick out of it.
The weather has continued to be swell and the seas have been calm. We had movies on the fantail last nite, as we do almost every nite in port. It isn't exactly like the Music Hall, we set up the screen over the depth charge racks and sit on buckets, hatch covers, or anything else handy.
Not much more to write, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
