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
Feb 10, 1941
Dear Jean:
I received your letter several days ago and intended to answer sooner but just couldn't seem to get to it.
I went down to Long Beach Friday night and came back Sunday night. I saw the memories, Florence and Christy Carelton, Abe Shephard and a fountain kid.
Out side of my trip to Long Beach I haven't been doing anything except going to the movies over here in the yards almost every night. Malc has been going along with me most of the time.
Malc. and I went ashore the other night to go roller skating but the rink was closed so we ended up going to a show, some fun.
It's been raining here every day for a hell of a while but it won't be long until we leave this country again and go back to Honolulu again. I sure hate to go back but maybe I'll be able to save a little money so I'll have a little to live on when I get paid off in Dec. - only 10 months and 11 days to do. I went over to labor III round this afternoon go and got an application to fill out for a job when I'm paid off. I sure hope there are some openings.
Boy! You will be doing good if you can read this as I'm laying in my bunk trying to write and I'm also so damn sleepy I don't hardly what I'm doing. I guess the 3 nites of sleep I missed out on when I went to Long Beach is too much for me.
How is every thing in N.D.? I had a letter from Bernice Hoyle, and my little Norwegian gal also. I also heard from my gal in Fargo. It seems like when I do get any mail it all comes in bunches and then I have a heck of a time answering.
Well Jean I guess I'll close for now and see if I can get some sleep.
Love,
Donald
