December 21, 1940

Mare Island, Navy Yards, 

Vallejo, Calif. 

Dec. 21, 1940

Dear Jean 
     I am just writing you a few lines to let you know that I am OK. and like it fine. 
     I have been here with Don for about two weeks and I think he likes it better than he says he does in his letters. 

December 16, 1940

12-16-40 

Dear Jean, 

     Here is some money. This will have to do for a Christmas present. I joined the band - I have to take off 14lbs by the 27th of Jan. I think I can do it ok. Maybe you better send me a diet that will help. I had received my questionnaire so figured might as well get the years training over with as soon as possible. When will you be going to Fargo? Well have to close for now. 

"Merry Christmas" 

Love Douglas

Dear Jean 

     Here is 5.00 Sorry I can't send more right now. Will send some more in a a couple weeks. Maths in the Navy now. Got a letter from him. he says he likes it . 

Love Douglas

Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year Don't go out and get souzed on this 

Douglas

December 9, 1940

Dec 9, 1940 

Dear Jean: 
      I received your letter a few days ago and now that I'm getting around to answering it I can't find it, so don't know if I'll answer every thing you asked or not. 
     I was down to Long Beach Sat and Sunday and caught a hell of a cold riding in the car but I guess I'll outlive it. There is a heck of a lot of flu out here so I'll probably have that too before its all over. Some of the schools are shut down. 

December 7, 1940

San Diego, Calif. 

Dec. 7, 1940 

Dear Jean, 
     I guess it is about time I am writing you a few lines. 
     I am still in San Diego and like it fine. But how are you making out? 
     I do not know just when I will go to sea but I think it will be soon for 350 of us came out here from the lakes and I am about the only one left. 

November 26, 1940

Nov. 26, 1940 

Dear Jean, 
     I guess it's about time I'm writing but since we have been back to the states I'm to darn busy to write much & right now I'm too sleepy to write much. 
     It sure seems good to be back again but I've been freezing ever since we have been here (Friday morning). 

November 16, 1940

San Diego, Calif. 

Nov. 16, 1940

Dear Jean. 
     Well how are you getting on with your work? I tried to get up to see you when I was home but could not find anybody goin up. 
     Boy is this a great place, we are just 14 mi from Mikes and the temp is about 70 so we do not get cold out here. The only pace you see snow is when you go up in the mts. 

November 9, 1940

November 9, 1940

Dear Jean,

Well here I am, on my way to Calif. We are having a fine trip.

Love,

Malcolm

November 6, 1940

Great Lakes, Ill.

Sept. 6, 1940

Dear Jean,

     Well I am in the navy now. I like it fine so far, and this is to be hardest part of the six years a man has.

     Well, how is it all with you? How do you like your job now?

November 3, 1940

Nov. 3, 1940

Dear Jean,

     Here it is Sunday and I have liberty but am staying aboard ship to day. I was ashore last nite and made all the rounds. I think that was the last liberty I'll make out here until we come back from the yards. We are supposed to start back the 15th and are supposed to get in the states around the 21st I hope.

October 18, 1940

Oct. 18, 1940 

Dear Jean: 
     I received your letter today and also one from Jeanette. It's the first time Jeanette has written for quite some time. 
     Jeanette said the Danor's were in a car accident on their way to Fargo. I sure hope none of them are hurt serious. 

October 3, 1940

October 3, 1940. 

Dear Jean, 
     I received your letter yesterday. I also heard from Malc. He says he likes it OK so far. I sure hope he continues to like it. I hope he gets in the medical division as he wants. 

September 20, 1940

Sept 20, 1940 

Dear Jean, 
     I received your letter a couple of days ago but am just getting a chance to answer it. 
     I had a letter from Malc. a couple of days ago also. he says he likes it fine but in six years I think he will change his mind. But I hope he keeps on liking it. He is going to try take up Pharmacy if he can get a school but if he don't he still might be able to get it aboard ship. If he comes around here I might be able to help him get what he wants. I hope Go. Anderson and Nelson like it too. 

September 6, 1940

Great Lakes, Ill. 
Sept. 6, 1940 

Dear Jean, 
     Well, I am in the navy now. I like it fine so far and this is to be the hardest part of the six years a man has. 
     Well, how is all with you? How do you like your job now? 

September 2, 1940

Sept 2, 1940 

Dear Jean: 
     I guess its about time I was answering your letter. I received it several days ago but am kind of slow at answering.
     No Jeanette hasn't written to me for quite a long time. I didn't even know she was in Minneapolis. Is she going to stay down there? I hope so. 

August 19, 1940

Aug 19, 1940

Sunday

Dear Jean,
     Here it is Sunday morning and nothing to do unless I go to the wash room and scrub clothes or go to church or write letters of course. I'd like very much to go to church but I guess I had better write a few letters if you see what I mean. 

August 4, 1940

Sunday Aug 4. 

Dear Jean 
     The last letter I wrote was a pretty hurried one as I was in a hurry to go ashore. You know after being out at sea for a while a fellow gets anxious to get on the beach. 
     Did you have a good vacation? I suppose it was hell to back to the grind again. 

July 30 1940

7/30/40 

Dear Jean: 
     I haven't much time to write now as I'm going ashore in a few minutes. I'm just waiting for a fellow to get ready. 

July 3, 1940

July 3rd

Dear Jean:

Well here it is almost 4th of July again & its plenty warm out here. I supose its pretty hot back there now?

I've only been ashore once since we came back from Guam. I've been staying aboard and doing a little studying. Yesterday I took the exam for second class machinist, there were 12 of us. I think I wrote a pretty good exam but being quite new on the ship might hold me back but in a month or two I'll know.

June 26, 1940

June 26, 1940

Dear Jean:
I received your letter yesterday. We just got back from Guam and it sure seems nice to be back. I wish it was back in Calif.

Out of the last 30 relays we were at sea 26 of them. We stoped at Wake Island for a couple of hours on the way back from Guam but there wasn't any thing to see there. All it is is just a rock sticking out of the water. Not even any trees just small bushes. It is a landing place for these clipper planes that fly to the Phillipines & China. It costs $0.35 to send a letter from there by plane.

May 26,1940

Sunday

Dear Jean:

We are now on the way to Guam. Guam is a small island about 5400 miles west & a little south of San Franciso. We are now quite close to the 180th maridian line. Yesterday was Friday & today is Sunday because we lost a day when we crossed th eline. That's the first six day week I've ever had but coming back we will get an 8 day week.

May 24, 1940

May 24, 1940.   

Dear Jean:   

I received your letter yesterday & also heard from Jeanette. It takes about two weeks to get any mail out here unless it just happens to make the right connections.    

So far I like the S.L.C. much better than the Idaho The only thing is I'll miss out on leave this fall but I guess I had better save my money if I want to go out of the Navy. Last year it cost me $210 for that leave I had. But I sure had fun.    

May 1, 1940

Miss Jean L. Campbell

Trinity Hospital

Jamestown

North Dakota

USS Salt Lake City

May 1, 1940 

Dear Jean:

April 24, 1940

Lahaina, Maui 

April 24, 1940 

Dear Jean:  

We just anchored this morning after being underway for about two weeks & we get under way tomorrow afternoon to go to Honolulu. (Pearl Harbor) The 26th 87 of us get transferred to the Salt Lake City.  

April 14, 1940

Dear Jean:
     I guess it's about time I was drafting you a few lines. We have been here for a few days & I've been ashore two times. Yesterday when I was walking through a park I ran into Tom He is on the "Saratoga, " an air craft carrier. We walked around the rest of the day & ate a couple of pineaples & coconuts. They only cost 10¢. You can get coconuts for nothing if you want to climb a tree after them. I tried to get Tom to go after some but they are pretty high & it is so damn hot.

March 8, 1940

Dear Jean,
     Well we are again out here in the -parasite- "Paradise" of the pacific, Hawaii. We haven't quite anchored yet but will in a few minutes.
     We are getting in two days late becauase of stormy weather most of the way over here. We were even stalled for over an hour one day. What surprise me was Malcolm didn't even get sea sick. So I guess his stomach must be all right. We had about 200 new fellows on here and most of them were sick. I've only seen it rougher once since I've been in.