Shanghai, China
Feb. 25, 1945 [1946]
Dear Folks,
As you can see, I am still aboard the "Samar" and probably will be for at least several more days. It's the old story of no transportation. The receiving ship, aboard which men are processed for return to the states is jam-packed. Some of the boys from the Samar who left the 9th of Feb. are still waiting for a ship, so you can see what the situation is. I had high hopes of celebrating my 20th birthday at sea on the way back, but chances for that look very slim indeed. Of course, the whole situation can change over-night, so, as I've said so many time before, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.
I haven't had any mail from you recently but I guess you got my letter telling you not to write any more.
Reading and hearing about all the strikes and other troubles, I am wondering what kind of a country we will be coming back too. Not to mention international complications. It seems to me that truman is lousing up the works. I guess he's doing his best, but he isn't big enough man to fill Roosevelt's shoes.
That's about all so I'll close for now and hope that my next letter will be from the receiving ship or better yet from a transport ready to get underway.
All my love,
Paul
Thursday, February 26, 1976
Sunday, February 15, 1976
Postmarked February 16, 1946
Feb. 15, 1946
Shanghai, China
Dear Folks,
Got your letter of Jan 28, and was glad to here from you. I've got a little bit of good news for you. I was notified today to be ready for transfer on or about Feb. 23, for return to continental U.S. for discharge. There is a large transport, the "general Scott," due in Shanghai the end of this month, so there is a goo chance we may go back on her. Allowing about 3 weeks for the "long voyage home," I should be a civilian by late March or early April.
If you have caught your breath from the surprise, I will tell you how it all came about. A couple of days ago we got a draft of replacements aboard all regular navy or low-point reserves. The sixth division managed to snare 3 MoMM's, so unless (perish the thought) something should happen to one of them before I leave, I am sitting pretty. Believe me, I am caring for those 3 guys like a nursemaid to make sure nothing happens to them.
so I guess you needn't bother writing anywhere as my forwarding adress is now 105-39 65 Rd. I probably not be in one place long enough to recieve any mail but I will write as often as I can and keep you posted as to where I'm at, and I'll put in a phone call as soon as I land.
All my love,
Paul
Shanghai, China
Dear Folks,
Got your letter of Jan 28, and was glad to here from you. I've got a little bit of good news for you. I was notified today to be ready for transfer on or about Feb. 23, for return to continental U.S. for discharge. There is a large transport, the "general Scott," due in Shanghai the end of this month, so there is a goo chance we may go back on her. Allowing about 3 weeks for the "long voyage home," I should be a civilian by late March or early April.
If you have caught your breath from the surprise, I will tell you how it all came about. A couple of days ago we got a draft of replacements aboard all regular navy or low-point reserves. The sixth division managed to snare 3 MoMM's, so unless (perish the thought) something should happen to one of them before I leave, I am sitting pretty. Believe me, I am caring for those 3 guys like a nursemaid to make sure nothing happens to them.
so I guess you needn't bother writing anywhere as my forwarding adress is now 105-39 65 Rd. I probably not be in one place long enough to recieve any mail but I will write as often as I can and keep you posted as to where I'm at, and I'll put in a phone call as soon as I land.
All my love,
Paul
Friday, February 13, 1976
Postmarked February 12, 1946
Shanghai, China
Feb. 12, 1945 [1946]
Dear Folks,
I had some luck, in a business venture, and am enclosing a money order for $100. The business being fillings straights and drawing to four card flushes. You guess it, poker. So, I decided to get it off before I lost it the same way as I won it.
I got a letter from Miriam and she told me all about the coming blessed event. I can imagine the stir it is creating in their household.
Shanghai is pretty much the same. American whisky is now available at the Navy Enlisted Men's Club, priced at 25 cents a shot, which is cheap enough. They charge about 3 times that much in the local clip joints. Chinese money has skyrocketed again the rate going from 1400 to 1 dollar to 1900 in about a week. It will probably come down again in a few days. When the rate goes up like that, prices go up with it, but when the rate goes down, prices remain the same. Since the rate is always seesawing up and down, prices climb steadily. I sure will be glad to go back to doing business in dollars and cents instead of having to delve into the intracacies of foreign exchange, inflation, and mathematics every time I buy a drink.
I haven't heard any work yet when I can expect to be transferred for discharge but I will probably know the story within a few days. My fingers are getting dislocated from keeping the crossed so long.
With all my love,
Paul
Feb. 12, 1945 [1946]
Dear Folks,
I had some luck, in a business venture, and am enclosing a money order for $100. The business being fillings straights and drawing to four card flushes. You guess it, poker. So, I decided to get it off before I lost it the same way as I won it.
I got a letter from Miriam and she told me all about the coming blessed event. I can imagine the stir it is creating in their household.
Shanghai is pretty much the same. American whisky is now available at the Navy Enlisted Men's Club, priced at 25 cents a shot, which is cheap enough. They charge about 3 times that much in the local clip joints. Chinese money has skyrocketed again the rate going from 1400 to 1 dollar to 1900 in about a week. It will probably come down again in a few days. When the rate goes up like that, prices go up with it, but when the rate goes down, prices remain the same. Since the rate is always seesawing up and down, prices climb steadily. I sure will be glad to go back to doing business in dollars and cents instead of having to delve into the intracacies of foreign exchange, inflation, and mathematics every time I buy a drink.
I haven't heard any work yet when I can expect to be transferred for discharge but I will probably know the story within a few days. My fingers are getting dislocated from keeping the crossed so long.
With all my love,
Paul
Wednesday, February 11, 1976
Postmarked February 11, 1946
This letter was written by Mother and was returned because Paul had left the Samar by the time it arrived.
Sunday, Feb. 10, 1946
Dear Paul,
Yesterday we received you letter of Jan 25, and the pictures are getting better and better. I hope you received the second batch of films we sent. I also included a couple of rolls in a package mailed out to you this week. Dad though it was kind of late to send you a package as you might be on your way home before it could reach you, and I said I would be perfectly satisfied to have that happen.
It seems Ralph was needlessly worried about the Spanish Regents exam. He got 92 on that, 96 in Physics, and 100 in Intermediate Algebra. Not bad at all, eh what?
Well, the strikes are still going on full force. The most serious one for New York right now is that of the tugboat operators. The city's fuel is running very low. All schools may have to be closed until the strike ist settled, and places of amusement will have very little heat.---The radio has just announced that there is prospect of an early settlement, as both the labor leaders and owners have agreed to arbitrate. We al hope they come to terms soon. The steel strike and auto workers strike show no signs of coming to an end. That means there will be no new cars for quite a while.
Otherwise, there isn't much news. The weather has been very pleasant the last few days, but we are promised snow to-night. That doesn't bother me very much, as the children won't have to get out early to-morrow, as school is closed.
We are all going to keep our fingers crossed for you as Feb 23 draws near. Maybe you will have a pleasant surprise, and not have to stay in Shanghai much longer. You've certainly been there long enough, and we hope and pray you won't have to stay for an extra 90 days.
In the meantime, keep well and happy,
With all our love,
Mom
Sunday, Feb. 10, 1946
Dear Paul,
Yesterday we received you letter of Jan 25, and the pictures are getting better and better. I hope you received the second batch of films we sent. I also included a couple of rolls in a package mailed out to you this week. Dad though it was kind of late to send you a package as you might be on your way home before it could reach you, and I said I would be perfectly satisfied to have that happen.
It seems Ralph was needlessly worried about the Spanish Regents exam. He got 92 on that, 96 in Physics, and 100 in Intermediate Algebra. Not bad at all, eh what?
Well, the strikes are still going on full force. The most serious one for New York right now is that of the tugboat operators. The city's fuel is running very low. All schools may have to be closed until the strike ist settled, and places of amusement will have very little heat.---The radio has just announced that there is prospect of an early settlement, as both the labor leaders and owners have agreed to arbitrate. We al hope they come to terms soon. The steel strike and auto workers strike show no signs of coming to an end. That means there will be no new cars for quite a while.
Otherwise, there isn't much news. The weather has been very pleasant the last few days, but we are promised snow to-night. That doesn't bother me very much, as the children won't have to get out early to-morrow, as school is closed.
We are all going to keep our fingers crossed for you as Feb 23 draws near. Maybe you will have a pleasant surprise, and not have to stay in Shanghai much longer. You've certainly been there long enough, and we hope and pray you won't have to stay for an extra 90 days.
In the meantime, keep well and happy,
With all our love,
Mom
Sunday, February 1, 1976
Postmarked February 3, 1946
Shanghai, China
Feb 1, 1945 [1946]
Dear Folks,
Got your letter of Feb. 1. and am glad you liked the pictures. I don't have any to send this time and the weather has not been suitable to take any. However, the first sunny day, I will take some more.
Had shore patrol last night and it was very quiet. We broke up a couple of fights and took care of a few boys who had imbibed too freely and say that they got safely back to their ships. But on the whole, it was a big change from those wild nights in October when the fleet first came in. There aren't as many ships in and the cold weather is keeping many fellows aboard. Like all sailors, I always regarded the shore patrol as a killjoy, but, now that I have been pulling it myself, I see where it does a lot of good in preventing minor incidents from becoming serious, especially in a foreign port where difference in language and customs are apt to cause considerable confusion and misunderstanding.
The time is drawing close to my eligibility date (23 days to be exact). So far I haven't heard anything about being held for 90 days, but the usual practice in the past has been to wait until the last minute, when a guy is all packed up and ready to leave, and then let the blow fall. So I'm just sitting tight and keeping my fingers crossed, in the meantime trying to make myself as un-essential as possible.
All my love,
Paul
Feb 1, 1945 [1946]
Dear Folks,
Got your letter of Feb. 1. and am glad you liked the pictures. I don't have any to send this time and the weather has not been suitable to take any. However, the first sunny day, I will take some more.
Had shore patrol last night and it was very quiet. We broke up a couple of fights and took care of a few boys who had imbibed too freely and say that they got safely back to their ships. But on the whole, it was a big change from those wild nights in October when the fleet first came in. There aren't as many ships in and the cold weather is keeping many fellows aboard. Like all sailors, I always regarded the shore patrol as a killjoy, but, now that I have been pulling it myself, I see where it does a lot of good in preventing minor incidents from becoming serious, especially in a foreign port where difference in language and customs are apt to cause considerable confusion and misunderstanding.
The time is drawing close to my eligibility date (23 days to be exact). So far I haven't heard anything about being held for 90 days, but the usual practice in the past has been to wait until the last minute, when a guy is all packed up and ready to leave, and then let the blow fall. So I'm just sitting tight and keeping my fingers crossed, in the meantime trying to make myself as un-essential as possible.
All my love,
Paul
