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354 Sunday 28 October 8:45 am My dearest Last night we had another party (Navy Day) for which Barry, Art Fickling and I lost our dates (they were assigned to night duty); so I took the duty from Gene Sweeney, who did have one, despite the fact that I’d been on duty two nights before. It started off as though it would be the busiest watch I've had here, with the MPs chasing 3 negro boys out of one of the farm acres where people are living in independent hub (couldn't catch them) and with a truck driver for a civilian laundry detail whom he brings back each night trying to locate all the people of his detail in camp to recover a bundle of his own laundry taken by mistake, he thought, when the civilians brought their own in. It was important to him because he was to leave for the States early this morning, and they were almost all the good clothes he had. But we never did find them, and were pretty well convinced that the civilian didn't swipe them. It was curious to spend awhile at the [pg 2] party without drinking; I had one or two comparisons in the same state - the captain (Comdr Kenney), who never drinks, and the acting Exec., Bill (Lt. Cmdr) Cameron, a big, rangy, good-natured and rather good looking guy who just can't get excited about parties out here because they remind him, he says, too much of high school with their conventions and - within the limit of the latter - their excesses, nor that anybody misbehaves flagrantly; I just mean excesses of foolish repartee (made hilarious by many drinks) over restrained and friendly conversation. Since few people are capable of the latter, perhaps it's better that they just drink and have a good, foolish time of it. We did have a good orchestra last night, a segment of Jack Teagarden's band (5 pc) who played a variety of rhythms and tempos and played them well. They were led by an exceptionally good piano - tinkly and sparkling, with a light touch. And they played many numbers in each group with [pg 3] only brief breaks between groups. (Last week's 7-piece, rather loud and brassy orchestra played either very hot and noisy pieces, or slow sticky ones; two or three brief numbers to a group; breaks were longer than playing time.) #435 - Your speaking of Tweed's reference to Mrs. Johnston reminds me that beginning with a few days after I met her, I've read or heard about Mrs. Johnston many times - I'm rather glad that I made her acquaintance by accident and had that little pleasurable thrill which comes with discovering people of charm or unusual personality. Incidentally, there is just a chance that you may meet Mrs. Johnston one day in the not too distant future - I'll explain in another letter tonight if I see Mr. Twitty (head FEA man on the island) this afternoon. In any case I'll explain briefly. The clippings from the Pine Cone (school kids) were cute. When our dates conked out on us yesterday morning I went down to see Rein again (thought he might give a lead on some Navy nurses at Base 19, but they too were having a party) (via some other errands) and took the clipping [pg 4] about Dickie with me. When I arrived he was reading his mail from home (same envelopes, by the way, that you use - my heart sort of skipped a beat to see them) and had just seen it! As I guess I've mentioned, he was expecting to leave any time - as soon as his relief arrived from Okinawa - and with a 3 priority which he hoped would get him straight thru his chief difficulty will be at Pearl, but he's got contacts there who may help. Yes, I was delighted to hear about Sammy, and I shall write him a note to that effect. Let's do have them over sometime. Never mind the dresses, darling; the nighties come first! #436 - I have one white wool Navy blanket, and will keep that to bring home try to get another. Whatever Walter did, I shall not send it because every package that leaves here must bear a signed label to the effect that it does not contain govt. property. [pg 5] #434 - I read parts of this letter to Rein when he was here: “…demobilize the island - charter a battleship - do anything, but get home!” Yes, darling, I will do my damnedest, but here's the hitch: unless orders and a relief (Which was asked for in my case) come thru automatically in response to that dispatch I spoke of, the captain does not have the power to detach me as he does others who have their points. I do have the right to put in a special letter as of the date I get my points (Nov. 1), but not whether or not Huidmarsh chooses to ok it is another matter; presumably he would do so in the case of MG men, or perhaps he’d have nothing to say about it. At any rate, it will take the letter at least a month and probably six weeks to get back approved. The reason you haven't (hadn't) heard from Arthur Smith is probably just that he hadn't arrived yet. He was stuck in Guam about ten days, and probably in Pearl somewhat longer. [pg 6] 1 pm Gosh, I'm just dying to see little sweetie - I'll love helping you with her, darling. In your dream, the large block of ice burning could be what your subconscious probably thinks of as your dilatory and unexcitable husband, whom you’re anxious to have get hot on that matter of getting home. Honey, if you only knew. Am going over to see Mr. Twitty now with Barrett, then perhaps to the beach for a swim. Till later, darling I love you Warren [pg 7] 8 pm Sweetie - we swam for almost 2 hours - wonderful time floating over the coral bottom in two - ten feet of water watching, thru under-water goggles like those the native fishermen wear, the myriad little fish of all hues and stripes - most were 1”-3”, but it was possible to get within 1- feet of big ones: lots of them 6”-10”, one a curiously stick-like specimen about 18” long (Gar). Swimming in these waters is fascinating. I'm so sleepy that I just can't do justice to the subject tonight, but just to keep you from being in suspense I'll give you the first of [wh?] I learned from Mr. Twitty: There is a chance for both Barry and me to get in on the civil and commercial administration of the Pacific Islands at [pg 8] salaries and civil service classifications which in my case I could not hope to achieve for some time in the U.S. (For instance, I might get as high as $4500, would not take less than $4000. We are now making $3600 and would be pretty certain to make considerably less at any job I could get right away at home.) Any such job would involve you and Wendy coming out here no later than 6 months from now; meanwhile, as as I can get released from the Navy I would join you in the States for about 60 days - time for a vacation in Carmel, a week in Memphis, two weeks in New York and time for me to help you pack and plan for the future. Although such an opportunity has its obvious disadvantages, it is too good a one to overlook: a chance to save money fast, to achieve without examination that classification which guarantees me a certain income level as long as I am in the Civil Service (including later in Washington) with annual increases, etc.; pleasant contacts (not at all stuffy like the Navy) and lots of little savings because of government facilities, [pg 9] travel while we’re young (at the end of a couple of years we could return to the East Coast around the world), good medical facilities and in general good setups for Wendy as long as she is pre-school age (and there's nothing to bind us to staying out here longer) - well, darling, it has exciting possibilities. Don't try to absorb them all at once - and don't forget to discount the fact that right now, in being lonely and wanting me home, you probably have no yen for travel. You would have if you were with me. Plans have not been drawn up fully yet for the Marianas, but they have been for the Western Carolinas and the Palaus and should be soon for here. Guam will always be under Navy rule and we wouldn't be living there, but could certainly visit it. The General of this island speaks [pg 10] of having families of service personnel come out here by 6 mos. from now and is already planning housing facilities - the tentative site selected is a lovely one. I won't know anything definite until the Dept. of Commerce representation returns here in about 2 weeks. But this deal will have nothing to do with my getting home - nothing to slow it up, at least, and if the Navy doesn't let me out soon pressure can be brought to bear so that it may even hasten it. Incidentally, the current indication is that the populations of these islands will be allowed to stay - those who wish, perhaps after Japanese and Korean representatives are sent to their home lands to observe conditions there. I might play a small part in building up a school system (or a major one) but would more likely be associated with [pg 11] the development of trade and industry on the islands. A Dept. of Commerce representative here recently was impressed with Tinian's possibilities for economic development. We’d be fairly big ducks in a small pond, Sweetie - not very tiny, for there’d be several dozen American children around, about half civilian - and I’d love that. You’d be able to see with your own eyes what we've done here and meet many of the Japanese and Korean civilians I've been working with. And we’d always be running across interesting people like the Deans etc. We wouldn't be altogether stuck on one small rock. Plans for [?] and inter island passenger and commercial shipping are already being made. Well - that's enough for now. But don't forget - in whatever we do there will be certain sacrifices to make. A lot of things could be less interesting for you and less promising for Wendy than this. It's still tentative, of course, so don't go overboard one way or the other, but let's hear how you feel. God Bless Our Happy Home Wher'er It Be Warren
