Shanghai, China
Nov 29, 1945
Dear Folks,
Finally got two packages from you. The one with the peanuts and the one with the moccosains and miniatures. The shoes fit fine and the brandy is quite a contrast from the local rotgut. If possible, a few more of the same in future packages will be appreciated. I have been accumulating souveniers and knick-knacks to such an extent that they are beginning to crowd me out of house and home. I have scarcely enough room in my locker to keep my clothes, so the first chance i get I will make up a package and send some of it home.
We have just gotten word of a point reduction. Critical scores will be reduced to 38, Dec.1, 37 Dec. 15, and 36 Jan. 1. Beyond that we have no word, but if the reduction continues at that rate I will be eligble for release around March. As I have 31 points now and the will continue to accumulate at the rate of 3/4 pt. per month. On the other hand, we just got a notice from Pacifac Fleet Hdqtrs. that all engineering personnel (including me) will be frozen. So I'm not counting on anything too much.
From the latest available dope, the "Samar" will probably be in this area until April or May, acting as a "service station" for small craft of the Yangtze River Patrol.
From your letter of Nov. 15, I gather that Henry is already home. I guess he is pretty glad to be out. I also got a letter from Dotty today. She writes pretty good.
I hope the package with the camera gets here soon, and in as good condition as the other have.
That's about all, so thanks again for the packages
All my love,
Paul
Sunday, November 30, 1975
Wednesday, November 19, 1975
Postmarked November 19, 1945
Nov. 18, 1945
Shanghai, China
Dear Folks,
Received our letter and am glad to hear about everyone getting home. Naturally I'll be glad when my time comes, but until then, I'm thoroughly enjoying myself here. The Navy has opened up an enlisted men's club on Bubbling Well Rd. Which is sort the Broadway of Shanghai. It has among other things, American beer, which is quite an improvement over the local variety of bellywash. It' really de luxe, too, with white-coated Chinese waiters.
We are planning to move alongside a dock within the next few days, which will make it much more convenient to go on liberty as it will then not be necessary to wait for a boat to go ashore.
I got your clipping regardly the fleet review on Navy Day and I can imagine what an impressive sight it must have been to see those battle-wagons and cruisers lined up in the Hudson. Well, maybe some day in the not too distant future you may see the mighty "Samar," plowing majestically up that same river (wishful thinking).
I always had heard about the poverty in China, but it is something that has to be seen to be believed. Sampans cluster around our fantail, and fight over the garbage from ships present. I've never seen a sea gull in this river, the Chinese clean all the garbage out. Ashore, you can't walk along the street without being beseiged by beggars, and if you give anything to one, you will have a mob following you wherever you go.
Thanksgiving will be this Thursday, and we will no doubt have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I guess we've all got a lot to be thankful for this year. That's about all, so I will close with,
All my love,
Paul
Shanghai, China
Dear Folks,
Received our letter and am glad to hear about everyone getting home. Naturally I'll be glad when my time comes, but until then, I'm thoroughly enjoying myself here. The Navy has opened up an enlisted men's club on Bubbling Well Rd. Which is sort the Broadway of Shanghai. It has among other things, American beer, which is quite an improvement over the local variety of bellywash. It' really de luxe, too, with white-coated Chinese waiters.
We are planning to move alongside a dock within the next few days, which will make it much more convenient to go on liberty as it will then not be necessary to wait for a boat to go ashore.
I got your clipping regardly the fleet review on Navy Day and I can imagine what an impressive sight it must have been to see those battle-wagons and cruisers lined up in the Hudson. Well, maybe some day in the not too distant future you may see the mighty "Samar," plowing majestically up that same river (wishful thinking).
I always had heard about the poverty in China, but it is something that has to be seen to be believed. Sampans cluster around our fantail, and fight over the garbage from ships present. I've never seen a sea gull in this river, the Chinese clean all the garbage out. Ashore, you can't walk along the street without being beseiged by beggars, and if you give anything to one, you will have a mob following you wherever you go.
Thanksgiving will be this Thursday, and we will no doubt have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I guess we've all got a lot to be thankful for this year. That's about all, so I will close with,
All my love,
Paul
Friday, November 7, 1975
Postmarked November 7, 1945
Shanghai, China
Tuesday, Nov. 6
Dear Folks,
Our mail is finally beginning to get straightened out, in the past couple of day I've received several letters, some of them were pretty water-logged, so I guess our mail got fouled up in that typhoon off Okinawa a few weeks back.
I got those clippings Dad sent regarding the "Houston" and "Bowers," and found them highly interesting. The latter must have gotten hit about the same time and place as the "Witter."
I'm glad to hear the Henry is getting out and hope the I will being doing the same before too many months have elaped. We have already sent over 100 men back with many more slated to leave next month. Unless we get some replacements, we will soon be left with but a skeleton crew.
I'm still having myself a good time here, making liberty every other day. Prices have come down some, since sailor wrecked a couple of joints recently which tried to charge exorbitant prices, the Shore Patrol is doing a good job here, checking up on these joints and placing "out of bounds" those which overcharge or do not meet sanitary standards.
I certainly ope that camera arrives O.K. for with so many interesting sights, I certainly would like to have some record of them.
That's about all so I hope everyone is O.K. and everything is running smoothly.
With all my love,
Paul
Tuesday, Nov. 6
Dear Folks,
Our mail is finally beginning to get straightened out, in the past couple of day I've received several letters, some of them were pretty water-logged, so I guess our mail got fouled up in that typhoon off Okinawa a few weeks back.
I got those clippings Dad sent regarding the "Houston" and "Bowers," and found them highly interesting. The latter must have gotten hit about the same time and place as the "Witter."
I'm glad to hear the Henry is getting out and hope the I will being doing the same before too many months have elaped. We have already sent over 100 men back with many more slated to leave next month. Unless we get some replacements, we will soon be left with but a skeleton crew.
I'm still having myself a good time here, making liberty every other day. Prices have come down some, since sailor wrecked a couple of joints recently which tried to charge exorbitant prices, the Shore Patrol is doing a good job here, checking up on these joints and placing "out of bounds" those which overcharge or do not meet sanitary standards.
I certainly ope that camera arrives O.K. for with so many interesting sights, I certainly would like to have some record of them.
That's about all so I hope everyone is O.K. and everything is running smoothly.
With all my love,
Paul
Monday, November 3, 1975
Postmarked November 3, 1945
Shanghai, China,Nov. 1, 1945
Dear Folks,
Got your letter of Oct. 8, and sure was glad to hear from you. OUr mail is still pretty fouled up, but I hope it gets straightened out soon. I am having myself a swell time here in Shanghai, going on liberty every other nite and painting the town red. They are having a runaway inflation here. Since we got here the exchange rate has skyrocketed from 700 to 1 U.S. dollar to 1600 and still going up. The money rate is going up so fast that the prices can't keep up with it, so we are getting things cheaper.
There is a large community of German and Austrian-jewish refugees in the Hangkew section of Shanghai. I have been there a few times, and have got me a couple of Jewish girl friends.
As you know, the Navy has begun to cut down the point system. The way I figure it, I should be eligible for discharge about the end of April.
In any event, I hope to enjoy a couple of moths vacation before starting school in the fall. I haven't decided where, but I think I would like a college somewhere in Southern California where the climate is pleasant and feminine companionship plentiful. But George and I will decide that among ourself. Regardless of where we go to school, I will try to have a good time, but at the same time do my best to get something out of college besides just a diploma to hang on the bulkhead. I would like to take a course in Mechanical Engineering and I think my Navy experience we give me a pretty good foundation to work on.
I was glad to hear about Dr. Clayman's safe arrival in Frisco. I guess he we relly have some stories to tell when he gets home.
There are all kinds are rumors going around the ship that we are going home soon, but I don't put too much stock in them. With all the civil strife in China, the U.S. Navy will proably have to stand by to protect Ameircan interests.
That's about all so I will close with
All my love,
Paul
