Monday, May 8, 2017

April 14, 1944

Saturday

     "We went to school just long enough to muster and was let out on liberty, at 8:00 to 12:00 midnight tomorrow night.
     I stenciled cloths all morning and packed my sea bag.
     After chow Bragg and I took a shower, and dressed up and went out about 2:00.  It was raining buckets.
     We played pool and ping pong and I wrote a letter to Mom and Sweet. 
     We went and got supper, and then walked around in the rain like a couple of dopes, trying to decide what to do.  We thought about coming back to the base to the show, but the bus never came, so we went back to the Y.  We had to wait a heck of a long time to get the bus back, finally it came.
     Got in bed at 1:00.  Still miss Mom and Sweet, in New London."

April 13, 1944

Thursday

     "It sure was a beautiful day.  Spring is here and summer is not far off.  It's so clear out, you can see across the river, which is like a sea of glass, to New London, where everything looks quiet and peaceful.
     This morning we had our weekly test and I did lousy.  I'm sure disgusted with myself.  I just did not stay on the ball this week, that's all.  That just goes to show you, darn it.  I'm learning the hard way I guess.
     This afternoon we had a lecture on drafts and such.  In the theater had movies on Pearl Harbor.  They were the normal photograph.  That was a stab in the back for the U.S. and especially for these men that were there.  They didn't have half a chance. 
     Went to the show after chow and saw, "Ladies Courageous, " about the W.A.F.S.
     Got two letters from Sweet.  I wrote to her, washed and hit the sack."

Later my dad reacted strongly to the movie "Pearl Harbor.  I took him and my mom to see it when it was first made.  He also saw it on TV in his room at the assisted care home.  He told me both times how the movie upset him.

Friday, May 5, 2017

April 12, 1944

Wednesday

     "Flippen left today.  He sailed from here, U.S.S. Parc.
     I washed clothes right after school, and got it over with. 
     I went to chow and then Gaudette, Brown, and Hall and I went swimming.  We stayed in just long enough to get pepped up. 
     Wrote part of a letter to mom, and then wrote to Sweet.  Talked to Bragg for awhile and then he and I went to mail the letters.  Then we stopped in Ship's Service and got a coke.
     Read a bit and then hit the sack.

April 11, 1944

Tuesday

     "I got a money order this afternoon for $51.00.  It looks like I'm going to night lookout school before Electric Torpedo.  If I go at all.  So I will be here for next payday. 
     We have duty tonight.  No air raid as yet.
     I got two letters from Betty today, was sweet as usual. 
     After school took a shower and shaved.  Then went to chow.  After chow I wrote to Mom and then to Sweet.  Went down to the canteen and got a coke.  Read awhile and then hit the sack."