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342 Wednesday 10 October noon Hello, darling, I got up earlier than usual this morning and was just starting a letter after breakfast when Barry came in to speak of another scrounging deal which had to be handled right away; so I went out to ride a jap truck to the area of one of the departing CB units in search of more tools. As luck would have it, they were not available (tho they may be sent up to us); and in view of our recent success in that line of equipment I wasn't eager to go in the first place, but we have warned never to pass up anything. Half the time we bring back a lot of things we never had in mind on going out. The [?] reason for pertinacity now, however, is that once the unit in question is abandoned, it is taken over with all that's left in the way of housing facilities and equipment by some other unit which had previously been only tentatively sheltered, and there's nothing more to be had. Here's what I came back with yesterday afternoon (all in good condition) - 10 hacksaws 14 wire cutters 20 chisels 7 hammers 12 large carpenter's levels 1 carpenter's rule 28 drawstrings 20 pinch bars 20 hatchets 31 saws [pg 2] 45 metal T. squares 39 screwdrivers 20 ratchet braces 5 compass protractors 105 assorted bits 4 Yankee drills 25 planes 26 wrenches and 4 huge vises 2 power saws (rotary blade, about 18” diameter) 5 electric hand drills 2 bench grinders (electricity-powered cutting and buffing wheels) The power saws are something that even our engineering department has always been short of; in order to have 2x8s cut down to 2x4s, we've often had to truck them outside to some CB unit shop to have the job done. This acquisition should solve that problem; we'll probably turn the saws over to Public Works (engineering) and let them do the work for us. Last night Barry and I met with the PTA's Council of 10 to discuss a barber shop for the school children (there are only 16 barbers in camp to service 11,500 people); a place for them to wash their hands before each noon meal; the purchase of Japanese books which may be ordered from California; etc. [pg 3] 4:45 pm On picking up my pen again I have just remembered how my letter started out this morning (the interrupted one), - “Darling, the smell of you (wearing our pajamas) brings back the close feel of you.” I learned this afternoon that the 12-mos. announcement about ensigns and jqs was a mistake - it had been made on the radio as well as in print, but was later corrected to 18. I wish they’d made it 15 because then I’d be pretty sure of a promotion; I should have liked making lieutenant. If I were close to getting out it would make little difference in money, but might - as far as getting a govt. job is concerned. I'm working on the State Dept. a little further right now, especially with a view to living in Washington - but sweetie, please keep an open mind, don't decide too positively where you want to be or what you want me to do, and trust me to take care of you not to give your wishes the benefit of any doubt - But perhaps both of us will be surprized at where [pg 4] we find ourselves a year from now; who knows? Three good letters from you yesterday in addition to the enclosed from Arthur Smith (Yes, I guess transportation is pretty bad right now - one of the doctors at the hospital here with the Navy qualifying score of 60 points for doctors is detached from his duties but has to wait at least 10 days for transportation! However, that condition can't last so very long) - Fun to get a typed page - do it some more. The articles on CASA were interesting - I'm certainly glad I had nothing to do with that place Barry, who speaks well of the M.G. course at Princeton (a distillation of the longer Columbia course) says he's never seen a place so badly run or with such low working morale - and he had a place there as Personnel Officer of a training unit. As I write, an announcement comes over the radio lowering the critical score of Navy doctors from 60 to 53. The general reduction should take place soon, and when it does I may drop in to speak to Capt. Dodds. [pg 5] 10 pm Back from the Wed night movie in the school auditorium: Rita Hayworth in “Tonight and Everynight” - I'm turning over responsibility for the movies to schoolmaster and Jackson so that I won't have to go up there at all, though I probably shall to check up now and then. I love hearing about your dreams, especially when you speak of awaking refreshed and happy, and staying so all day. Darling, life for me too is empty and lonely - being without you for this long even robs me of normal working satisfaction, and the only way I can keep to a standard is by telling myself that this is how I would do it if I had you beside me to share the experience with - it's hard sometimes trading on the future but it's the only way I keep going Still two letters to answer but I'm going to bed now, perhaps to dream of you I love you, darling Warren
