[Vol. 1: Number 4 — A continuing Friday series]

A crazy week for me regarding work, and also for the Blogosphere, which has the sword of McCain-Feingold hanging over its head, so I found some welcome respite in transcribing these next few letters. My Dad must have been very lonely in that August of ‘42 as he wrote so many letters to Mom that I had to break this up into a two-week presentation. I wonder now if, later in life, he ever saw the movie Summer of 42, and if he did, had it ever crossed his mind that Mom could have had a “Jennifer O’Neill” experience. I would say absolutely not, but I have already been surprised several times by these letters — and we don’t have hers.

One odd note, he has mentioned several times since the beginning of this series that various members of the family never writes to him, but he has never mentioned his second brother, Rollen. Now my uncle Rollen lived just a few hundred yards away from us on our Oklahoma farm, as he and my Dad had bought a 100 some odd acres of bottom land to clear for a pecan orchard, so it is very strange to me that his name has not come up as yet.

Only one sister is left, Audeen, and I will try and contact her to get some background on a few things. Also, some of Mom’s sisters and her youngest brother might fill in a few blanks, however the letters can actually stand alone.

So without further ado, my father’s letters, continued. (db)

[Postmark: August 04, 1942]
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[Camp Allen — Norfolk, VA]

Aug. 3, 1942

My Darling Sweetheart,

I was certainly glad when I got that letter from you this evening, it took six days for it to reach here by air mail but of course it had to come by the way of Ports mouth.

I will now try to answer some of the questions you asked me, that is if I can. I think I told you in my last letter what kind of work I am doing. I don’t know why they move me so much. A job with the fire department in the Navy is just like a fire department job anywhere, they have trucks and every thing and all the fireman has to do is put out the fire when one starts. You see the hospital in Portsmouth is four stories high and is about a block square, they have better than two thousand patients, then there is all the corpsman quarters which might get afire. I have never as yet been aboard ship and it looks as though I may not get to that is for a long time anyway. The doctor in charge here says I am stuck till Dec. anyway, but of course you can’t tell what will happen. I have made friends everywhere I have been stationed. (boy friends) There are some mighty fine fellows in the Navy. I even met a fellow from Yale, he says he has known Al [my Dad's stepfather] ever since he (the boy) was just a kid. His name is Charley Bradley. We were sent to different places, I have lost all my old friends, I was sent here alone. I even had to leave Bill. I have made new friends here an every thing is O.K. but they can’t take the place of my old friends.

We eat in a large dining hall which is a block long and has separate stools with plenty of room. We march in single file and as you pass along you help your self or some one dishes it out to you. It is just cafeteria style. When you get what you want go set down any where and you know what next. We sleep on double decker beds, you know one over the other. They are about like a day bed. But over at Portsmouth we had hospital beds with inter spring mattresses. Lights are out at 9;30 over here. They have a bugle boy who plays tapps then plays revelry in the morning. He also plays other things through the day but I don’t as yet know all of them. One is that colors when they raise the flag and when they lower it in the evening.

I haven’t heard from Ophard [Dad's brother] in a long time, I have written twice since I have heard.

Yes I have rate badge on my sleeve, it consists of an eagle, a red cross and two stripes, each forming a V in you remember the armys stripe is like a V upside down. Our stripes are black on our white uniforms and red on our blue uniforms. One stripe is PhM3/c [Pharmacists Mate 3rd Class] two stripes is PhM2/c and three stripes is PhM1/c. I hope to soon get three stripes, the H.A. has only the cross. No eagle or stripes.

I am really glad that your folks are moving into town and I am sorry you can’t go swimming next Sunday, which was yesterday. I have been swimming several times in the Ocean and in the pools that are provided for us. I have quite a tan, you wouldn’t believe it and my bay window is slowly leaving, thank goodness.

I hope you do learn to drive, I can’t imagine my wife not knowing how to drive. Oh, I forgot we arent’ married, are we. We probably couldn’t afford a car, but it is nice to know how anyway.

Say, I just noticed this on the back of that letter, this is the second one I have received since I have been here, only the other was a card. No, that isn’t right, this is the third, two letters and one card.

I went back over to Portsmouth this last weekend to see Bill, he is coming over to see me next weekend. You see we don’t have liberty the same weekends.

Say, I had quite a time the other night. The ambulance driver got a call to take a sick man over to Portsmouth so I went along as his helper. The first man was O.K. but as we were coming back we saw a wreck, one of the men was a marine from our camp, so we had to take him back over to Portsmouth. He had a broken leg and a broken arm, also a few pretty bad cuts here and there. I had to take care of him till we got over there. He sure did carry on and I am sure he was in plenty of pain.

Will write more next time.

All My Love.
(Duke)

[Postmark: August 10, 1942]
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[Naval Operating Base — Norfolk, VA]

Aug. 10, 1942

Hello Darling,

Well, how do you like my ink. Yours was pretty bad but take a look at this. Well, it was all I could find.

I went over to Portsmouth to see Bill yesterday, had a swell time, some more of the boys form Corpus had arrived & we had an old fashin reunion. I got the pictures while I was over there. I will send them to you, (ONE-AT-A-TIME) that way you will write soon, & I’ll answer sooner. I have a new job. I am (M.A.A.) Master-At-Arms. I assign boys to duty when they arrive, also make out liberty lists & sort of run things. You see the guys go through here so fast that they have to put someone in charge who stays here to see that everything is kept in order.

We are running a new battalion through today & I am on duty. Just sitting here seeing that everything is running smooth. (Writing a letter) You can imagine how hard I have to work, (don’t you feel sorry for me & I only make $96. per mo.)

I have seen some good shows lately, (Mrs. Miniver) (The Goy Sisters) (Beyond the Blue Horizon) & some more I can’t remember just now. Say, by the way, what do you do in your spare time?

This paper is what we write the battalion orders on & the other marked Seebees. I have some stationary I bought here on the compound. That answers the question about the stationary. I don’t have your letter here so I’ll have to wait to answer any other questions you asked.

I hope you can read this, there is so much noise I can’t think or write either.

All My Love
“Duke”

[Postmark: August 12, 1942]
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[Camp Allen — Norfolk, VA]

Aug. 11, 1942

Hello Darling,

I was surely surprised to get another letter today, but I was pleased even more. I hadn’t heard about Dr. Patch. It is unbelievable to think any such thing could happen. They always did seem funny to me.

It sure does rain here a lot. I just finished washing my clothes, 3 prs. pants, 3 jumpers, 6 shorts & 6 shirts, (some laundry.) Oh yes & some socks & a hat.

It is raining so I had to hang them inside. I hope you have a good time on your Vacation. Don’t you plan on going anywhere. What ever you do, be careful & don’t hurt your back.

I haven’t had a large picture made yet, I want to have it made with my Blues on, they are our dress clothes even though they aren’t very dressy, that is what they call them.

Do you know I have never written so many letters in all my life. I have written Mother, Ophard, J.L., you, Audeen, Juanita & almost everyone, & you are the only one who answers.

I would give anything to see you for just a little while, it seems ages since I left.

Forgive me, I guess I have the blues. I always get the blues when it rains & boy is it raining.

Answer Soon

All my Love
“Duke”

[Postmark: August 13, 1942]
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[Camp Allen — Norfolk, VA]

Aug. 12, 1942

Hello Darling,

I don’t have anything special to say but I thought I’d write just the same. I just got off work, this is the second day that I have really worked at my new job. I like it fine but it sure was in a mess. The M.A.A. job I am speaking about.

It is almost like an information desk, everyone who comes on the compound always first reports to M.A.A. office to find out where to go or what to do & I am supposed to tell them & I hardly know anything about it. So you see, it is quite a problem. I also have charge of the mail for the Medical Dept. You see, you aren’t the only postman in this family, but I only have about 200 customers.

Write real soon (every day).

all my Love
“Duke”

[Postmark: August 14, 1942]
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[Camp Allen — Norfolk, VA]

Aug. 13, 1942

Hello Darling,

Well, here I am again. I just finished another busy day & have had my shower & am all curled up on my bunk.

I have just about run out of information & I can’t remember any questions that I haven’t answered. There is sure a lot of noise up here. (I live in a 2 story building, top story) There is two or three radios going & several boys talking & others singing. A few of the boys have gone ashore. They have every other night liberty from 1700 (5 o’clock) till 0745 (7:45) in the morning. I have every night liberty because I make out the liberty lists & I always put my name on it. I don’t go ashore though, there is nothing to do but get drunk & I have decided not to do that, so I just stay here & wash or read. (More fun)

Seems ages since you have written.

I hope you can read this.

Love
“Duke”

Dad’s WWII Letters to Mom™
A celebration of love and discovery by Duke’s son.
Copyright © 2005 — Arthur Dale Baker — All Rights Reserved

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