Description
407 Transient Officers’ Quarters Marpi Point, Saipan Christmas Eve Dearly Beloved, I'm on my way to you at last. I left Tinian this afternoon at 2:15 on an LCI - Barry and Dan Crusuis drove me down to the dock - and arrived in Saipan two hours later after a cool and pleasant trip in the course of which I watched tiny flying fish skimming across the surface of the water. It took another hour and a half to get transportation here, and after sweating for several hundred yards under my heavy seabag and making a return trip for suitcase and briefcase, I sat down early at the Port Director's and resigned myself to a lonely and perhaps dismal Christmas. Well, it was a pleasant surprise when I reached this spot just in time for dinner to find (the first such transient quarters I have yet seen) an attractive, clean quonset village located high above the sea and with a breeze which makes it even cooler than Tinian. (Saipan generally is about 10° hotter and a lot [pg 2] muggier.) Best of all is the atmosphere of the place - that is, the morale of the few officers I have seen. Not all are going home, but all seem to enjoy being here, especially those off small craft. Most places where there are many transients are impersonal and uninviting. Arthurs Sz. and K. are still here I haven't seen them yet but doubtless shall in the morning. There seems to be a good chance that I'll leave when they do; I'm hoping to get on a cruiser that's now in the harbor. I won't know anything definitely until morning because the administration office was closed when we arrived. It's just eight o'clock but I've had a full day and, Christmas Eve or no Christmas Eve, I'm going to bed very soon. I'll be thinking of you every minute of tomorrow, darling. Happy New Year! Warren
