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251 Navy #3247 (Military Govt) FPO San Francisco Saturday 16 June 1945 7:15 am Darling- This morning we had delicious black coffee out of our own [i.e., the Officers’ Mess] [Cory?] coffeemakers on electric plates - it was so much better than the weak slops they make in the big urns; then I retired to our new benjo, which at present is complete except for the canvas which will screen it in (the old one was filled up with coral already) - all the comforts, that is, save privacy - and calmly ignored the Korean camp 50 yards away…The old order changeth. I don't think I've mentioned it, either, that we are now eating off linen tablecloths and have napkins for the first time. I'm so glad to get your first letter written after you received my first post-Guam one. Thank you for the interesting map of the Marianas - I'm sorry I can't detail the places I visited on Guam and send it back to you - perhaps I'll send it anyhow for you to keep and me to explain later on. Don't get an exaggerated idea of proximity from this view; Rota is some 60 miles from here and visible only 1 or 2 days a year when visibility is extremely high; its 40 or so miles from Guam. I forget the exact distance, but those are minimum. [pg 2] Last night my English class gave me a holiday because of a wrestling match in the Korean camp that everyone wanted to see; I squandered it by talking to John Congleton in headquarters, where he was on duty, for an hour (I didn't think of that as a waste of time) and after that by seeing “Brewster's Millions,” a new and lousy movie version of the familiar old theme of the guy who's left $7,000,000 provided that he can spend another million in 2 months. Then I read a 100 pages of “The Three Bamboos” by Robert Standish (did you once mention reading it?) and wished that I’d either settled down to the book earlier in the evening, or written you a long letter. “The Three Bamboos” is the story of a poor but inordinately proud Samurai family of the last [Tohugawa?] days whose 3 sons escape abroad to learn European ways with the singleminded purpose of returning to Japan and beating the Western nations at their own game. It isn't the best writing but it makes a good story. (I picked up the book in Joe Scannell's quarters when he had left, together with our copy of Emily Hahn.) Thank you, darling, for another lovely picture of Wendy - an excellent closeup. I treasure them all. Thank the Special Man, too, for his message. I'm glad you gave him the “L” case. Although I couldn't be sure, I suspect it's I rather than Walter whom you'll bombard with questions. I should [pg 3] guess the time of my remaining stay here to be about 4 or 5 months, while I'm sure he'll be on Okinawa at least 6 and possibly a year, if he fits into the MG scheme of things there. Speaking of jeeping around and missing a car when I get home, I'm certainly going to try to buy a jeep after the war if the government unloads them at $100 or so, as it well may do. Not as a family car, but for summer exploring in hills and wilds. Don't ask me yet what hills and wilds, but there've got to be some near wherever we are. No, Tel didn't graduate with Hy Kublin; he was in a class of about 24 who got out in September. Their valedictorian was Herb Dean whose mother lived at that hotel in Boulder - I think Muz met her. I knew you’d be pleased to hear that I’d seen Dunlavy; it was largely with that thought in mind that I went considerably out of my way to see him. It was Mrs. Johnston, honey - not similar names, but identical. Overseas time counted from the fist day of the month you go out - No, not exactly true. It's counted from the nearest 1st of a month. Thus mine is actually counted not from 25 Sept. but from 1 Oct. [pg 4] But if I’d gone out on 14 Sept (or any date up to 15 Sept) it would have been 1 Sept. Still, it might have been worse - if I’d left on 16 Sept. it would still have dated from 1 Oct. Have got to go right now if I'm to catch the postman, Sweetie. Today Morimoto and I are taking a complete inventory of food stocks at the school siuji, preparatory to beginning on Monday to feed the whole school daily. I love you Warren
