March 24
Dear Jean
Well we finally got mail out her in this "hell hole" Since we left Long Beach the first of March we have rated one night liberty and then it didn't start until 4:30 in the afternoon and was up at 10 oclock at nite. Since then we have been underway all the time. We took a load of civilian workers out to midway islands and haven't come in yet. They sent a airplane in after the mail.
The one liberty Malc & I made he said it isn't so bad but he will have lots of time to find faults with it.
No, I hadn't heard Bud Dann was married I'll bet that is really some lash up. Do you ever hear from Jean Dann?
Boy, this place is really the bunk every nite we have "darken ship" all of the lights are put out. One of my best friends on here that is a cook scalded his feet and legs the night before last. He stumbled and spilt boiling water on himself. The skin from above his ankles just kind of ran down and bunched up on his feet. It really looks bad. I guess it will be a quite a while before he walks again.
Have you heard from Doug since he left. I'll really bet they have a good time.
Did you hear Dave Keyes broke his hip? I really feel sorry for him. I'll bet he is pretty lonesome. I think I'll drop him a few lines one of these days. I don't know if Earl & Gordon are out here or not. We are never in so don't get the chance to look them up.
Well Jean being at sea all the time don't help my writing, so I'll close for now.
Love,
Don
Malc says to tell you hello-
P.S. Smile at the office gal for me.
Miss Jean L. Campbell
Trinity Hospital
Jamestown
North Dakota
Mar 8 P.M. 1941 Salt Lake City
D.R. Campbell USS. Salt Lake City B-div. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Feb 23, 1941.
Dear Jean,
I received your letter yesterday and also one from Jeannette. We leave here this afternoon and go to Frisco and take on fuel oil and leave for Long Beach to-nite. We stay in Long Beach until the 28th then leave for the "Paradise of the Pacific" HaHa (Honolulu). I'd sure like to stay in Long Beach for a few days longer but no luck.
Makie finally got back from the hospital a couple of days ago. He looks OK but his jaw is still swollen up, and his teeth don't quite mesh right. He got his jaw broke in a fight. After he had knocked the fellow down and was walking back to the bar the fellow got up and hit him when he didn't even see him.
Max and I was ashore Fri. nite and had a couple of beers. Max was ashore with a kid on the North Hampton. They are tied alongside of us. He is from Enderline (Herb Cook). I know his cousins.
We went on our trial run yesterday for about 6 or 8 hours. Every thing seemed to work pretty good after an overhaul. Mac didn't even get sea sick but it wasn't very rough. There was quite a few of the "Boots" new guys that were sick.
I wonder how Doug likes army life? I think the band will have it pretty easy. I'll bet it will really suit Shorty.
I gave your letter to Mac to read and haven't got it back so I forgot if you asked any questions so if you did I'll answer in my next letter.
I really have to hurry and finish because the mail closes in a little and I also have to write to my little Norwegian gal in Lisbon. Oh yes, give the office gal a smile for me.
Love,
Don.
You can send my next mail to Honolulu.
Fgo-2-17-41
Dear Jean,
Intended to write to you sooner - but didn't get around to it. we are located in the fargo house until we leave for Louisiana - which will be about the 25th or 26th of Feb.
Most of the fellows are pretty anxious to get going- including myself.
About 5 or 6 days ago we were vaccinated and inoculated and our arms are in pretty good shape but I understand we get another shot tomorrow.
Last night we were out to the Don McMill show and it was pretty good. The place was packed. This must have been 7 or 8 thousand people there. Some other radio stars were there but I forget their names.
Some of the fellows went home for to-day but I stayed here in Fargo.
Johnny Richling and some of the boys in the band got their pictures in the Nago Town when they first got up here - just wondered if you saw it.
I will write more later. Can't think of any thing else to say.
Oh yes. I weighed in at 199 lbs - How's that for reducing?
Some of us fellows have been going over to the YMCA swimming pool and steam bath showers - that sure works out good.
Well guess I'll really quit before I have to start another sheet.
Love
Douglas.
Feb. 17, 1941
Mare Island Navy Yards
Dear Jean,
Well ,I guess it is about my time to write a few lines. Don said to say hello. so hello.
Not much news the week. We go out for a trial run this Friday and we leave the yard in about ten days. We go to Long Beach but we do not know for how long. It may be a day, a 1 week, or a month we do not know. We are almost sure we will be in Hawaii with in the next month.
I got a letter from Dot some time ago, and on from Jeanette so I guess I should write more than one letter to night.
Don made a mat for his girl in Fargo last night I guess it is her birthday lucky girl. HA HA.
We still have rain each day of the week little sun shine, but I guess that is better than 2 or 3 feet of snow to walk through each day.
We are tied up along side the North Hampton at the present time. A pal of mine is on it but I guess he must be home on leave for I have not seen him.
Don is doing a little studying tonight and that is what I should be doing and I may put in a few min. before the night is over.
I got a letter from Tom Dann, he is in the Bremerton navy yard and from what he said it is just like this one. Poor kid. HA HA.
Don was down to Long Beach last week and I guess he seen some of the people from home. But I could not go I had the duty and also was broke.
My pal from Dougs is back at Lisbon so I almost hope we do not go to San Diego or I guess it would still be better than Hawaii. Don said he has a couple of places he wants to show me when we get to Hawaii.
Well, how is the hospital under the new management. are you still the big shot one the fourth deck? or that is what the navy would call it?
We went over to the show last night But Don & I did not think so much of it but the gobs we went with think it is a good show the name was Arizona.
Well I guess that is about all for this time.
Love
Malcolm
