Thursday, April 25, 1974
Witter Log April 25 - May 1, 1944
On 25 April, Witter departed the southern Solomons in company with Task Unit (TU) 34.9.6, bound for Cape Gloucester on the island of New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago. She arrived in Borgen Bay near Cape Gloucester on 28 April and remained until 1 May when she accompanied TU 34.9.6 to the Russell Islands subgroup of the Solomons.
Wednesday, April 24, 1974
Postmarked April 24, 1944
April 23, 1944
Dear Folks,
There isn't anything to write about but I guess you're as glad to hear from me as I am to hear from you so I will try to fill up a page or two.
I am listening to a radio broadcast by short-wave on the armed forces radio and the music sounds pretty good.
As I told you in my last letter, I am a shellback, having crossed the equator. We had some fresh fruit today, the first in about 3 weeks and it sure tasted good. We had canned grapefruit and such, but it can't compare with fresh fruit. We've been eating pretty well on the whole, although we don't have as much variety as we did in the states.
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
There isn't anything to write about but I guess you're as glad to hear from me as I am to hear from you so I will try to fill up a page or two.
I am listening to a radio broadcast by short-wave on the armed forces radio and the music sounds pretty good.
As I told you in my last letter, I am a shellback, having crossed the equator. We had some fresh fruit today, the first in about 3 weeks and it sure tasted good. We had canned grapefruit and such, but it can't compare with fresh fruit. We've been eating pretty well on the whole, although we don't have as much variety as we did in the states.
Love to all,
Paul
Monday, April 22, 1974
Postmarked April 22, 1944
April 21, 1944
Dear Folks,
I can now tell you that I am a full fledged shell-back, having crossed the equator. As is customary, we had an appropriate ceremony with King Neptune presiding and all us pollywogs had to go thru the initiation before we became shell-backs. I came out all smeared up with fuel oil and with a pretty sore stern but after we went thru the mill we were full fledged shell-backs and as such we could grab a paddle and take it out on the rest of the polly-wogs as they came thru. All in all, it was a lot of fun.
I've been hearing from you pretty regularly, most of your letters arrive within 8 or ten days. I know this is kind of late, but wish Dotty a very happy birthday for me. We have movies on the fantail every night in port but most of the time it starts to rain in the middle of the picture. Not much more to write, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
I can now tell you that I am a full fledged shell-back, having crossed the equator. As is customary, we had an appropriate ceremony with King Neptune presiding and all us pollywogs had to go thru the initiation before we became shell-backs. I came out all smeared up with fuel oil and with a pretty sore stern but after we went thru the mill we were full fledged shell-backs and as such we could grab a paddle and take it out on the rest of the polly-wogs as they came thru. All in all, it was a lot of fun.
I've been hearing from you pretty regularly, most of your letters arrive within 8 or ten days. I know this is kind of late, but wish Dotty a very happy birthday for me. We have movies on the fantail every night in port but most of the time it starts to rain in the middle of the picture. Not much more to write, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Tuesday, April 16, 1974
Postmarked April 16, 1944 - later, v-mail
April 6, 1944
Dear Folks,,
I managed to borrow a few sheets of v-mail stationery so I hope this will get to you faster than the other letters I wrote. I've been hearing from you quite regular the past few days. I had an afternoon liberty yesterday. Beer is rationed to 2 bottles a man but I guess it is lucky to get that. I picked a few cocoanuts and drank some milk from them just to see what it tasted like. I wish I could think of more to write but it's pretty hard. I'm glad to hear that everyone home is O.K. and that Dotty is doing so well in school. I got a letter from Miriam and she seems to like married life pretty well. I haven't done much fishing lately as we have been pretty busy but I drop my line over every chance I get. That's about all so will close with
Love to all,
Paul
P.S. Remember me to Sally
Dear Folks,,
I managed to borrow a few sheets of v-mail stationery so I hope this will get to you faster than the other letters I wrote. I've been hearing from you quite regular the past few days. I had an afternoon liberty yesterday. Beer is rationed to 2 bottles a man but I guess it is lucky to get that. I picked a few cocoanuts and drank some milk from them just to see what it tasted like. I wish I could think of more to write but it's pretty hard. I'm glad to hear that everyone home is O.K. and that Dotty is doing so well in school. I got a letter from Miriam and she seems to like married life pretty well. I haven't done much fishing lately as we have been pretty busy but I drop my line over every chance I get. That's about all so will close with
Love to all,
Paul
P.S. Remember me to Sally
Postmarked April 16, 1944, v-mail
Apr. 7, 1944
Dear Folks,
As usual, there isn't much I can write about. I went ashore again this afternoon and we played some football and then had a swim to cool off. All in all it was a pretty enjoyable afternoon. I still can't give you any more information as to where I am except somewhere in the Pacifac but after sufficient time has elapsed we will be allowed to mention places we have been. So far all we can tell about is San Francisco, San Diego, and Pearl harbor. But even though I can't tell you exactly where I am I want you to know that I am well and happy and am seeing a lot of places that I had never heard of before. I guess I will have a lot to tell about when I do get home.
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
As usual, there isn't much I can write about. I went ashore again this afternoon and we played some football and then had a swim to cool off. All in all it was a pretty enjoyable afternoon. I still can't give you any more information as to where I am except somewhere in the Pacifac but after sufficient time has elapsed we will be allowed to mention places we have been. So far all we can tell about is San Francisco, San Diego, and Pearl harbor. But even though I can't tell you exactly where I am I want you to know that I am well and happy and am seeing a lot of places that I had never heard of before. I guess I will have a lot to tell about when I do get home.
Love to all,
Paul
Monday, April 15, 1974
Witter Log April 15 - 21, 1944
On the 15th [of April], the destroyer escort stood out of Segond Channel to rendezvous at sea with SS William Charlie Yeager and escort that ship to the southern Solomons. They reached Tulagi on the 21st; and, while the merchantman put into Tulagi, Witter moved on to Purvis Bay at Florida Island.
Postmarked April 15, 1944
Apr. 10, 1944
Dear Folks,
I haven't written in the last couple of days because there wasn't anything I could write about. There still isn't but I will try anyway. I haven't had any mail in a couple of days but I guess it will all come at once and then there will probably be another lull for a few days. I hope you are hearing from me regularly. I've been writing as often as I could. Keep on writing and tell everyone else to keep writing even if I am slow in answering because mail from home means a lot to us down here. I'm feeling fine and have nothing to complain about, so will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
P.S. Regards to Sally
Dear Folks,
I haven't written in the last couple of days because there wasn't anything I could write about. There still isn't but I will try anyway. I haven't had any mail in a couple of days but I guess it will all come at once and then there will probably be another lull for a few days. I hope you are hearing from me regularly. I've been writing as often as I could. Keep on writing and tell everyone else to keep writing even if I am slow in answering because mail from home means a lot to us down here. I'm feeling fine and have nothing to complain about, so will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
P.S. Regards to Sally
Wednesday, April 10, 1974
Postmarked April 9, 1944 - later, v-mail
March 29, 1944
Dear Folks,
Caught my first fish in the Pacifac last nite. It was some kind of bass about a pound or pound and a half. I fried it in the galley and it wasn't bad.
I am now a member of the "Sons of the Golden Dragon" having crossed the international date line. If and when we cross the equator, I will become a "shellback" but they have quite an initiation and hazing when that happens. there isn't much more to write, things are going pretty much the same. If you want to write to any of the fellow I know, like George Kravis, Stan Hirsh, Bob Gilbert, Herb Sommers or any of the others, let them know that I'm doing O.K.
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Caught my first fish in the Pacifac last nite. It was some kind of bass about a pound or pound and a half. I fried it in the galley and it wasn't bad.
I am now a member of the "Sons of the Golden Dragon" having crossed the international date line. If and when we cross the equator, I will become a "shellback" but they have quite an initiation and hazing when that happens. there isn't much more to write, things are going pretty much the same. If you want to write to any of the fellow I know, like George Kravis, Stan Hirsh, Bob Gilbert, Herb Sommers or any of the others, let them know that I'm doing O.K.
Love to all,
Paul
Tuesday, April 9, 1974
Postmarked April 9, 1944 v-mail
March 24, 1944
Dear Folks,
Well, today makes exactly one year since I was sworn into the Navy. So far, I've gotten what I wanted, to get a ship and get out to sea so I guess I can't complain. I haven't had a chance to do very much fishing but I did catch a couple of crabs. We went swimming over the side this afternoon and the water felt pretty good. Have you heard from any of the fellow like George Kravis, Stan Hirsch, Bob Marshall, or Herb Sommers? Don't laugh, but I am growing a beard. I've been cultivating it for 2 weeks now, and it almost covers my chin. Well, I'll ave plety of time to grow it. All in all I like this life swell. We don't have all the luxuries and conveniences that you find ashore but I likeit just the same. Give my love to Mom, dad, Ralph, Dotty, Vickie and Sally.
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Well, today makes exactly one year since I was sworn into the Navy. So far, I've gotten what I wanted, to get a ship and get out to sea so I guess I can't complain. I haven't had a chance to do very much fishing but I did catch a couple of crabs. We went swimming over the side this afternoon and the water felt pretty good. Have you heard from any of the fellow like George Kravis, Stan Hirsch, Bob Marshall, or Herb Sommers? Don't laugh, but I am growing a beard. I've been cultivating it for 2 weeks now, and it almost covers my chin. Well, I'll ave plety of time to grow it. All in all I like this life swell. We don't have all the luxuries and conveniences that you find ashore but I likeit just the same. Give my love to Mom, dad, Ralph, Dotty, Vickie and Sally.
Love to all,
Paul
Saturday, April 6, 1974
Postmarked April 8, 1944
April 6, 1944
Dear Folks,
I'm all out of B-mail stationary and can't get any, so I have to write this way. I had liberty yesterday from 1330 to 1700. there isn't much you can do on liberty. We have beer but its rationed to 2 bottles per day. About al you can do ashore is eat cocoanuts and swim or play ball, but even that is better than nothing. I can't tell you much except that I am somewhere in the Pacifac west of the International Date line. I'm purposely repeating myself because all of my mail may not go thru. I am also going to start numbering my letters, so you will know if you miss any. this will be No. 1. I got another letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that everyting is O.K. U am O.K. and have nothing to complain about. That's about all, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
I'm all out of B-mail stationary and can't get any, so I have to write this way. I had liberty yesterday from 1330 to 1700. there isn't much you can do on liberty. We have beer but its rationed to 2 bottles per day. About al you can do ashore is eat cocoanuts and swim or play ball, but even that is better than nothing. I can't tell you much except that I am somewhere in the Pacifac west of the International Date line. I'm purposely repeating myself because all of my mail may not go thru. I am also going to start numbering my letters, so you will know if you miss any. this will be No. 1. I got another letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that everyting is O.K. U am O.K. and have nothing to complain about. That's about all, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Wednesday, April 3, 1974
Witter Log April 3 - 15, 1944
She [U.S.S. Witter] remained for 12 days [until April 15] escorting ships into and out of the harbor at Espiritu Santo.
