May 27, 1944
Dear Folks,
Today is Sunday and that means Holiday routine. I am taking it easy fishing and catching up on my writing. I heard a short wave broadcast of the game between Bklyn and St. Louis which dem Bums lost 5-3 in true Brooklyn fashion by allowing the winning runs to score on 2 errors. Last nite we saw the movie "Meet John Doe" and the nite before, we saw "Eyes in the Night." I know both are pretty old, but I enjoyed them anyway. Out here we can't be too fussy about entertainment.
I regret to inform you that my beard died a premature death as a result of the skipper's orders that all beard be shaved off. It broke my heart to do it, as I know Ralph will never believe I ever had a beard and will probably think the whole thing was a myth.
I haven't had my mail for a while, but we've been moving around so much I guess it hasn't had a chance to catch up to us. The last mail we had was about 3 weeks ago and I got those snapshots and they were pretty good. Let's have some more of them.
I imagine the flounders are biting like mad out in the bay by now. I suppose you've been out a couple of times already. It's a perfect day for fishing, not too hot, a slight breeze, and just a little swell, just like the bay in summer.
In answer to a question in one of your letters, incoming mail is not censored, only outgoing mail is, so you can write what you won't without worrying about embarrassing me.
That's about all, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Wednesday, May 29, 1974
Friday, May 17, 1974
Witter Log May 17, 1944
After the 17 May assault on the Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area located a little farther up the northern coast of New Guinea, she [the Witter] added that region to her itinerary.
Thursday, May 16, 1974
Postmarked May 16, 1944
May 14, 1944
Dear Folks,
Finally got some mail yesterday after nearly a month without it. I got a big kick out of Dorothy's letter especially. i went on the beach the other afternoon but there wasn't much to do or see. We had a swimming party yesterday afternoon. We've had movies every nite and we sure appreciate them even tho i saw some of the pictures before I even came in the navy and didn't think much of them then.
----------------------------
This pause was caused by a school of small sharks which passed by my line, which I have over the side while writing, but they didn't bite.
---------------------------
another pause while I pulled in a 2-foot long shark. It looks like the sand sharks we caught in the bay. The dirt on this letter is where he flopped on it. This probable even smells fishy.
I guess you've done some flounder fishing in the bay. I sure wish I was out there, but I guess I'm pretty lucky to be able to fish at all. I'm sure glad I thought to get me some fishing tackle before leaving the state, as it's brought many hours of pleasure.
Next time you write, how about some picture of the folks, an kind of pictures will be welcome. I'm glad to hear that Hank made 1st Lieut. and I may get a chance to congratulate him personally, although its like looking for a needle in a haystack, even if you are in the same haystack the needle is in, if you get what I mean.
That's about all, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Finally got some mail yesterday after nearly a month without it. I got a big kick out of Dorothy's letter especially. i went on the beach the other afternoon but there wasn't much to do or see. We had a swimming party yesterday afternoon. We've had movies every nite and we sure appreciate them even tho i saw some of the pictures before I even came in the navy and didn't think much of them then.
----------------------------
This pause was caused by a school of small sharks which passed by my line, which I have over the side while writing, but they didn't bite.
---------------------------
another pause while I pulled in a 2-foot long shark. It looks like the sand sharks we caught in the bay. The dirt on this letter is where he flopped on it. This probable even smells fishy.
I guess you've done some flounder fishing in the bay. I sure wish I was out there, but I guess I'm pretty lucky to be able to fish at all. I'm sure glad I thought to get me some fishing tackle before leaving the state, as it's brought many hours of pleasure.
Next time you write, how about some picture of the folks, an kind of pictures will be welcome. I'm glad to hear that Hank made 1st Lieut. and I may get a chance to congratulate him personally, although its like looking for a needle in a haystack, even if you are in the same haystack the needle is in, if you get what I mean.
That's about all, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Monday, May 13, 1974
Postmarked May 13, 1944
May 10, 1944
Dear Folks,
We haven't had any mail as yet and I hope you hear from me more often than I do from you. It's been nearly a month since I had any mail.
We got paid last week tho, but there isn't much to spend it on. As usual there isn't much I can write about.
I hope every one at home is O.K. and that everything is running smoothly.
Have you heard from Hank? If you write him, tell him not to be too surprised if we shoulD meet some day.
That's about all, so i will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
We haven't had any mail as yet and I hope you hear from me more often than I do from you. It's been nearly a month since I had any mail.
We got paid last week tho, but there isn't much to spend it on. As usual there isn't much I can write about.
I hope every one at home is O.K. and that everything is running smoothly.
Have you heard from Hank? If you write him, tell him not to be too surprised if we shoulD meet some day.
That's about all, so i will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Sunday, May 5, 1974
Witter Log May 5, 1944
On 5 May, she [Witter] entered Milne Bay at the southeastern tip of New Guinea. By the time Witter reached that port, American forces had already made almost simultaneous landings at Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay, and Humboldt Bay, in actions known collectively as the Hollandia operation. Thus, for the next several weeks, Witter drew duty escorting resupply and reinforcement convoys to the three landing areas, making stops at such intermediary places as Cape Cretin and Cape Sudest.
Friday, May 3, 1974
Postmarked May 3, 1944 - later
May 3, 1944
Dear Folks,
We got Sunday's baseball scores the other day and according to them, the Dodgers lost to the Giants 26-8. I know that this must be the result of an error in transmission, at least I hope so.
as usual, there is nothing I can write about that will not be censored. It's been a long time since we've had any mail, but I hope some my letters have gotten thru to you. I had to get some shots the other day, as it was over a year since I got my last ones, but they didn't bother me at all. That's about all, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
We got Sunday's baseball scores the other day and according to them, the Dodgers lost to the Giants 26-8. I know that this must be the result of an error in transmission, at least I hope so.
as usual, there is nothing I can write about that will not be censored. It's been a long time since we've had any mail, but I hope some my letters have gotten thru to you. I had to get some shots the other day, as it was over a year since I got my last ones, but they didn't bother me at all. That's about all, so I will close with,
Love to all,
Paul
Witter Log May 3, 1944
She [Witter] arrived in the Russells on 3 May but departed that same day for her primary theater of operations for the next 10 weeks, the island of New Guinea.
Postmarked May 3, 1944
April 30, 1944
Dear Folks,
Heard the news about Brooklyn being beat in a no-hitter by Boston and I couldn't help thinking about Ralph tearing his hair out by the roots. But don't worry, once we get going we'll morder dem bums.
Yesterday, we painted all the pumps valves and pipes in the fireroom aluminum and it really looks like a million buck, like one of those model power plants at the World's Fair. The question is, how long will it stay that way.
We've been eating chow topside the last couple of days and it's pretty nice. It's a lot cooler and more comfortable than below in the compartments.
The other nite we had a movie, "New York Town," and it was pretty good. The scenes showing the 3rd Ave. El and the Brooklyn Bridge looked pretty good too, and I couldn't help thinking of us steaming in under that bridge some day. I never cared much for New York but I wouldn't mind seeing it now.
That's about all, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
Dear Folks,
Heard the news about Brooklyn being beat in a no-hitter by Boston and I couldn't help thinking about Ralph tearing his hair out by the roots. But don't worry, once we get going we'll morder dem bums.
Yesterday, we painted all the pumps valves and pipes in the fireroom aluminum and it really looks like a million buck, like one of those model power plants at the World's Fair. The question is, how long will it stay that way.
We've been eating chow topside the last couple of days and it's pretty nice. It's a lot cooler and more comfortable than below in the compartments.
The other nite we had a movie, "New York Town," and it was pretty good. The scenes showing the 3rd Ave. El and the Brooklyn Bridge looked pretty good too, and I couldn't help thinking of us steaming in under that bridge some day. I never cared much for New York but I wouldn't mind seeing it now.
That's about all, so I will close with
Love to all,
Paul
