Description
#266 Profound, no? Navy #3247 (Mil. Govt) FPO San Francisco Thurs 5 July 1945 My dearest darling As you can see, I've received the Wendy's-birthday-box - I have just snapped snapper in the candle - (I hesitated, thinking to keep it, and then thought shucks, I don't want to be a spectator, I want to be in on it. So I snapped it - it made a good pop) and am wearing as I write the hat that came in it, a stunning two-tone affair, white on one side and bright blue on the other. The sentiment which I found inside is attached above. Just to do things up right, I've taken a moment to open the package of Brush Creek tobacco and fill my favorite pipe - the one with the silver band that you bought me in Boulder. It looks and smells like wonderful tobacco - I'm glad you sent it. I can't tell yet how it is going to taste because a change [pg 2] of brands (I've been smoking Sir Walter Raleigh, a standard molasses-in-burley straight tobacco) takes 2 or 3 pipefuls to assert itself. I'll let you know how it is when I've smoked it awhile. I am on duty tonight, but not at headquarters, under a new setup the staff duty officer merely has to remain in camp, on call; a chief p.o. or p.o. first class and also a “duty yeoman” (usually 51C) as messenger both stay at headquarters from 1600 on, sleeping there overnight. Just now I am feeling exceedingly virtuous, having spent 2 ½ hours cleaning and oiling my .45 for the first time since I left Pearl, when I used it for target practice. It was only slightly rusty in little corners and grooves here and there, but they were hard places to get at. [pg 3] I've been trying to get around to doing that for the past two months.. Now my fingers are sore and it's hard to write. #316 Can hardly believe that Wendy is saying recognizable versions of words like ‘Helen’ You mustn't feel letdown at the realization that I'm not coming home right away, sweetie (I say ‘mustn't,’ knowing how little one can control such feelings, except to the extent of not giving in to them). It's for the better, I'm sure, that things are as they are just now. There is a certain comfort for me in the realization that I am becoming almost one of the veterans of this island, even though I got here about D+100; lots of other units have moved on, and in ours only 5 of the original officers remain. 10:10 Just got back from making the rounds of the civilian camp. Very soon I shall return to the Officers’ Club to have a drink on John Anastasia (1st Lt), one of the 3 Army [pg 4] officers of the company which guards the perimeter of the civilian camp for us. He put in a request for transfer to M.G. and has been ordered to Charlottesville for 8 months of [training?]. He's very happy about it - but there's no telling how long he'll be in after the war. Friday 6 July 7:30 am I left even earlier than I intended to - had almost forgotten that the staff duty officer must close the bar (as per an island order) at 10 p.m. Fried eggs for breakfast this morning - first time in 6 weeks. Now we'll probably have them every day for 3 weeks and then no more for another 6 or 8. Time to take the monthly payroll, typed up by Slicer, to the Supply Office to check the totals. Till later, darling - And your strawberry jam for breakfast - it was delicious! Send more if you can. Seal the jar with china cement - this one leaked about 1/3 but contents even all right I love you Warren
