These letters are posted newest to oldest.
The rest of the story…… To save money, Jim hitchhiked from Los Angeles (where he was discharged) back home to New York City in December 1943. The Navy game him $182.52 to cover his transportation home. He said that people across the country were more than happy give a ride, meal or lodging to a “boy in uniform”.
He did not tell his mother in the last letter that he had actually been honorably discharged on December 10, 1943. He had injured his knee playing high school football at Brooklyn Prep. I’m not sure why the Navy took him in and trained him to fly, just to discharge him for a pre-existing condition.
He was hired by American Airlines as a gate agent. By 1967 he was living in Maryland, and was the manager for American Airlines at (Friendship)Baltimore-Washington Intl Airport. He was getting ready to move his family to Tokyo to open the Japanese offices for American Airlines when he became completely disabled by a massive stroke. Although he worked tirelessly to rehabilitate himself, and regain the ability to speak and walk, he was never able to work again.
He moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1972 with his wife, Jean Johnson Chellis, and their four children. He died there in 1997.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
December 10, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Enclosed you will find (I hope) two money orders for one hundred fifty dollars. Hold on to it until I get home.
No definite time when I will arrive but I will call on the 16th.
That's all.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Enclosed you will find (I hope) two money orders for one hundred fifty dollars. Hold on to it until I get home.
No definite time when I will arrive but I will call on the 16th.
That's all.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
December 7, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital. Long Beach, California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
I just received your letter of the 3rd air mail. I am glad to hear that you like that little gift I sent. Long as you appreciated those thins I will keep sending them. You should receive another box I sent last week. I hope you like it.
About Garraty- I have made a few inquiries to the Marines in my ward. They figure that since he is in the 3rd Marine Service Troop, he must be in the European section. The 1st and 2nd Division are doing the fighting in the Pacific area. If he is overseas he must have an A.P.O. on his address. If it is New York he most likely will be in Europe. One benefit will be sent to St. Albans Naval Hospital , if he is shipped back to the States. That's about the only news I can offer. Here's a tip though. If her is coming back to the States, he must be O.K. All the boys they send back are convalescent ( I hope that is spelled right.)
Yesterday I received a letter from Jerry dated Oct10th. Mat better keep hustling.
Jerry mentioned in his letter that he doesn't want a pen so I won't buy that Parker I mentioned in my last letter.
I have just heard that my leave is to start on 10th this Friday. Here's the catch- I won't be paid until Thursday so I can't make reservations until Friday. Don't figure on anytime that I will be able to get across the wide continent. There are thousands upon thousands who have the same problem.
Here's what I am going to do. Bobby's suppose to be home on the 16th. I doubt very much whether I can make New York by that time, but I would sure like to see Bobby. Where ever I am on the 16th , I will call home and make arrangements to meet him on this way back. If I am not mistaken Chicago would be the best place since Bobby will certainly be held up there for a few hours. I hope you understand what I am driving at. You can be sure I will call the 16th.
That's about all. By the way Pop said he wanted some nuts. I will send some home tomorrow.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
I have just heard that my leave is to start on 10th this Friday. Here's the catch- I won't be paid until Thursday so I can't make reservations until Friday. Don't figure on anytime that I will be able to get across the wide continent. There are thousands upon thousands who have the same problem.
Here's what I am going to do. Bobby's suppose to be home on the 16th. I doubt very much whether I can make New York by that time, but I would sure like to see Bobby. Where ever I am on the 16th , I will call home and make arrangements to meet him on this way back. If I am not mistaken Chicago would be the best place since Bobby will certainly be held up there for a few hours. I hope you understand what I am driving at. You can be sure I will call the 16th.
That's about all. By the way Pop said he wanted some nuts. I will send some home tomorrow.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Sunday, November 14, 2010
December 5, 1943 - Sunday
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
They have run out of the other stationaryusptairs ( get a load of the way I almost spelled) upstairs.
Here it is only 0845 and it seems as if I have been up for days. Believe it or not, for the past week I have been going to 7 o'clock mass every day. Just call me Saint James Chellis. They throw us out of our sacks at 0630 so I might as well go. There's nothing to do around the hospital at that time in the morning.
I want to warn you. Mom, that I am sending home packages Railway Express "collect".If you take care of the bills, I will square it up with you when I get home. By the way, most of the packages are my gear so just let it stand and I will straighten it out. You will be able recognize the "junk" I am sending to the family.
My leave is all set. I walked up to the Captain, skipper of this station, and told him I wanted leave. He said, "Sure Jim, anything you want. Take as long as you want. Him and I are like buddies, we run this "joint" ???
Shhh. Don't repeat this but again it has been raining in California. We had a few drops for five minutes this morning and is wasn't heavy fog. All this Californians hide under the beds and in the closets whenever there is a sign of dark clouds. They can't stand the humiliation.
Up in ships service, I can buy almost anything from soup to nuts at a much lower price than outside. They have Parker pens us there for $3.75 and I paid $5.65 for mine almost two years ago. I remember that Jerry wanted a good pen so I will pick him up one.
You know I could send a million things home but the shipping cost a mint as you might have noticed already.
One of the boys that works down in the Post Office said that I have a letter from my Mammy. I will wait until the mail comes in before I close.
Did you hear that Spencer is being shipped out? He is going to train on those Higgins landing barges down south some place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgins_boat
I received a letter from Molly and Bub the other day. Bub seems to be getting a kick out of that new job of his. Speaking of the Bourkes it will seem like days of years gone by if we are all around for Christmas again. From every one's letters, I figure Geof will be home soon.
The boys are having a big argument on a article that read in the papers. A representatives has just started a campaign to award a bonus to all service men who receive medical discharges. Of course this subject is important to most of the boys since they expect medical disch.. Can't blame them in the least.
Your air-mail letter of December 2nd just came in with Mary's mass card. Thank you very much, Mary.
I am glad to hear that Bobby will be home. I am afraid that i will not be able to be home on the 16th. My trouble is getting home. There are thousands of boys from Australia who have preference over everyone else. As soon as I find out definitely when my leave starts I can start looking for reservations.
I am really disgusted with California as far as the holidays is concerned. There isn't any Christmas atmosphere at all. I guess the cold weather is lacking.
I took some pictures yesterday and they will be printed on Monday. Can't find anyplace to buy films though. Have no fear, Chellis will think of something.
Think I had better close now.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
P.S. Whew
They have run out of the other stationary
Here it is only 0845 and it seems as if I have been up for days. Believe it or not, for the past week I have been going to 7 o'clock mass every day. Just call me Saint James Chellis. They throw us out of our sacks at 0630 so I might as well go. There's nothing to do around the hospital at that time in the morning.
I want to warn you. Mom, that I am sending home packages Railway Express "collect".If you take care of the bills, I will square it up with you when I get home. By the way, most of the packages are my gear so just let it stand and I will straighten it out. You will be able recognize the "junk" I am sending to the family.
My leave is all set. I walked up to the Captain, skipper of this station, and told him I wanted leave. He said, "Sure Jim, anything you want. Take as long as you want. Him and I are like buddies, we run this "joint" ???
Shhh. Don't repeat this but again it has been raining in California. We had a few drops for five minutes this morning and is wasn't heavy fog. All this Californians hide under the beds and in the closets whenever there is a sign of dark clouds. They can't stand the humiliation.
Up in ships service, I can buy almost anything from soup to nuts at a much lower price than outside. They have Parker pens us there for $3.75 and I paid $5.65 for mine almost two years ago. I remember that Jerry wanted a good pen so I will pick him up one.
You know I could send a million things home but the shipping cost a mint as you might have noticed already.
One of the boys that works down in the Post Office said that I have a letter from my Mammy. I will wait until the mail comes in before I close.
Did you hear that Spencer is being shipped out? He is going to train on those Higgins landing barges down south some place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgins_boat
I received a letter from Molly and Bub the other day. Bub seems to be getting a kick out of that new job of his. Speaking of the Bourkes it will seem like days of years gone by if we are all around for Christmas again. From every one's letters, I figure Geof will be home soon.
The boys are having a big argument on a article that read in the papers. A representatives has just started a campaign to award a bonus to all service men who receive medical discharges. Of course this subject is important to most of the boys since they expect medical disch.. Can't blame them in the least.
Your air-mail letter of December 2nd just came in with Mary's mass card. Thank you very much, Mary.
I am glad to hear that Bobby will be home. I am afraid that i will not be able to be home on the 16th. My trouble is getting home. There are thousands of boys from Australia who have preference over everyone else. As soon as I find out definitely when my leave starts I can start looking for reservations.
I am really disgusted with California as far as the holidays is concerned. There isn't any Christmas atmosphere at all. I guess the cold weather is lacking.
I took some pictures yesterday and they will be printed on Monday. Can't find anyplace to buy films though. Have no fear, Chellis will think of something.
Think I had better close now.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
P.S. Whew
December 2, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Mail just came in and what do you think I received. There was a letter from my dear mother written on October 16, 1943. The letter had a hundred different postmarks on it.
I don't think I have acknowledged your package. It arrived Tuesday in the late mail. Thanks a million for everything. Thank you Mat for those cherries. They certainly made a hit with everyone here.
I received a letter from Driscoll and he expects to be going across soon. He had just come back from a five day leave.
I must admit that I didn't see Bob Hope. He was only a few miles away from the hospital at Alimatos Naval Air Station.
Yesterday traveled into Los Angeles . Walked around a bit and finally ended up seeing Alvino Ray. ( I hope that's the way you spell his name). Boy that Los Angeles is one crumby town at least the business section.
These Mexican zoot suiters invest every place. Remember, Los Angeles was the scene of the battle between servicemen and the zoot suiters. everything is quiet now, though. There are too many servicemen about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoot_Suit_Riots
In Bobby's last letter he mentioned that he might be home for Christmas. That will be swell.
Someone just gave me a card mailed by Mom on the 26th of Oct. That traveled almost the same route as you earlier letter. Mat you better straighten things out.
Your loving brother, son and nephew,
Jim
November 29, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital, Long Beach California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary & Mat,Just want to scribble a few lines before I go up to the movies.
Over the weekend I went over to Hollywood, the great Hollywood. To tell the truth I was a little disappointed. If you don't know where to go in Hollywood, it's the same as any other town. Hollywood and Vine is the same as any other town's main street. By the way I didn't see Bob Hope standing on the corner as he claims to do so much. Since I will be home so soon maybe I will leave all my stories to when I get home.
So far I haven't received your package. It's probably been held up by the Christmas rush.
I received a letter from Driscoll today. He was home on a five day leave but didn't have a chance to see you. According to all reports he is on his way across.
I haven't received any more news as to when I can start my leave. Should know within a week. Never can depend on the Navy.
Did you hear about the Ramblers great victory. Boy Gogs was a proud man.
I will have to hustle off to see "It ain't Hay" Adios Amigos
Your loving son, brother, and nephew,
Jim
Friday, November 12, 2010
November 23, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital-Long Beach, California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,I have just come out of a nice warm shower and suddenly had the urge to do a little more writing.
Last night after sending my last letter out I dressed up and went down to Long Beach. I roamed around most of the time visiting the famous "Pike". It's the exact same thing as Coney Island except it's about half the size. Same old penny arcades, "freak" shows, pop corn stands and baseball games, jammed together. As you might expect it was over run with sailors. They were throwing salutes at me left and right. It got so bad that I had to keep looking to my side and at the the ground. I sent home some junk but it shouldn't be there for two weeks. I have a few things here that I bought in Mexico but I don't know how I am going to send them out.
A Red Cross nurse was in this morning and invited two cadets to someones house for Thanksgiving. I said I would go so it looks like I am going to get a free feed. I don't know what kind off deal this is but there's no harm in trying.
Every Tuesday Kay Francis comes around with a group of movie starts and distributes smokes to the patients. I was told she was working on a picture at present so wasn't going to be here today. Most of the movie stars aren't too famous. One of the girls I saw though, I remember her in a picture but can't recall her name. If I ever do think of her name, I will let you know.
I received only one letter today. That was from Mat. My gosh, Mat with all those connections you have you should be boss of the P.O. in no time.
No kidding Mom this is the life. I only got eight hours sleep last night so I snoozed for a few hours this afternoon. Boy what I wreck I am going to be when I get out of this hospital. All this rest will kill me. Say Mom, if you have any wash you want me to do send it on to me. I have to do something.
This west coast has the worst transportation I have ever seen. All buses stop at 2430 and you are out of luck for the rest of the night. From 1800 to 2430 they only run every half hour and your can imagine how packed they are. Last night I was lucky enough to get a hitch back to the hospital. Two elderly couples gave me a lift right to the gate.
Funny part about it all was that five of us in the care and we all came from different sections of the country west-midwest-east-south- southwest. It seems that everyone here in Long Beach comes everyplace but California. The population has tripled since the war started.
There are millions of jobs out here paying good money. Some plants are paying 90 cents and hour while you go to school. The problem is housing. There isn't a room to be had in all this section of the country.
California seems to be the land of defense housing projects. There are thousands of these small houses, no larger than our garage, surrounding the defense plants.
Douglas Aircraft in only five miles down the road and I can see these defense homes from the ward. I hate to think of what's going to happen after the war.
I had better watch myself. I want to write about five more letters tonight and rambling on like this will never help.
That's all for present.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
November 24, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital- Long Beach, California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry,Mary and Mat,This will have to be a short letter. I want to get this letter in today's mail and that only allows me 15 minutes.
I have some very , very, very, good news. My leave papers came back and were approved. It isn't definite as to what date I will start my leave but it is between the 10th and 15th.
Didn't do anything last night but write a few letters. Today liberty starts at 1300 so I am going downtown to get a haircut and pick some baggages from railway express.
Will have to close now.
Your loving brother, nephew & darling son,
Jim
November 19, 1943 (out of order)
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
Surprised, this is the second letter I am writing you in three days. I guess wonders will never cease.
I received a letter from Mom yesterday and one from Pop today. The boys back in Las Vegas are readdressing my mail so it won't have to go to the Selection Board in Los Angeles then here. Probably take a day longer that way.
Ever since I have gone away, Pop has had his hand in my card parties than Father Linibach. Well, the Chellis family has to make money some way. My Mammy always said that the family first got a start when Pop became an usher in church. - Easy Poppy. Glad to hear Jerry won something- stay in there churching and we'll soon refurnish the house.
Don't say it too loud, but it is raining here in California. These natives claim it is heavy fog but it is as wet as rain we had in New York. Last night, coming back from Long Beach I ran into a fog. Boy, I could hardly see ten feet in front of me.They tell me at this time of year, Long Beach section has them every night. Don't let it get around that I told you or I would be run out of California by the Chamber of Commerce.
I went to see some bone specialists today and he has recommended diathrmy (sp?) treatments. What a racket. Please address my mail Chief Goldbricker Chellis, from now on. He didn't say how long I would be here buy I kind of like this place and would enjoy a rest for a week or more, then a nice leave- wishful thinking.
Last night I went to the wrestling matches down in Long Beach with a few of the other cadets. Boy what a bunch of comedians. They are the biggest phonies going. People go there for a laugh more than anything else.
I haven't decided what I am going to to do over the weekend but believe me I shouldn't have any trouble amusing myself. I think about the best thing to do is to see Long Beach first. They have an amusement center down there similar to Coney Island called the "Pike". I noticed the roller coaster when I was coming in from Los Angeles.
The scenery here in southern California must have been real pretty. You should see the outlying districts now. The whole mountain side is covered with oil wells. The are no more than 25 ft apart, and almost black out the ground from a distance. Only one out of three are in use now. I imagine they would be able to beautify Long Beach and Los Angeles a 100% if they tore those structures down.
A ha the sun has just come out for the first time today. The chamber of commerce can smile again.
Out here in Long Beach all the homes are of the bungalow type that you might see in the better sections of Rockaway. Palm trees line the residential streets just as maple trees a stringed along our streets in Woodhaven. I must compliment California on their beautiful schools. About six or seven years ago an earthquake tore down all the old structures and these new buildings replaced them. You might have seen some of them in the various movies. All modernistic and will kept campus really could make school enjoyable.
I had better close now. I almost forgot about chow so I have to hustle if I want to eat. Friday today- what can I eat?
Your loving son, brother, & nephew,
Jim
Surprised, this is the second letter I am writing you in three days. I guess wonders will never cease.
I received a letter from Mom yesterday and one from Pop today. The boys back in Las Vegas are readdressing my mail so it won't have to go to the Selection Board in Los Angeles then here. Probably take a day longer that way.
Ever since I have gone away, Pop has had his hand in my card parties than Father Linibach. Well, the Chellis family has to make money some way. My Mammy always said that the family first got a start when Pop became an usher in church. - Easy Poppy. Glad to hear Jerry won something- stay in there churching and we'll soon refurnish the house.
Don't say it too loud, but it is raining here in California. These natives claim it is heavy fog but it is as wet as rain we had in New York. Last night, coming back from Long Beach I ran into a fog. Boy, I could hardly see ten feet in front of me.They tell me at this time of year, Long Beach section has them every night. Don't let it get around that I told you or I would be run out of California by the Chamber of Commerce.
I went to see some bone specialists today and he has recommended diathrmy (sp?) treatments. What a racket. Please address my mail Chief Goldbricker Chellis, from now on. He didn't say how long I would be here buy I kind of like this place and would enjoy a rest for a week or more, then a nice leave- wishful thinking.
Last night I went to the wrestling matches down in Long Beach with a few of the other cadets. Boy what a bunch of comedians. They are the biggest phonies going. People go there for a laugh more than anything else.
I haven't decided what I am going to to do over the weekend but believe me I shouldn't have any trouble amusing myself. I think about the best thing to do is to see Long Beach first. They have an amusement center down there similar to Coney Island called the "Pike". I noticed the roller coaster when I was coming in from Los Angeles.
The scenery here in southern California must have been real pretty. You should see the outlying districts now. The whole mountain side is covered with oil wells. The are no more than 25 ft apart, and almost black out the ground from a distance. Only one out of three are in use now. I imagine they would be able to beautify Long Beach and Los Angeles a 100% if they tore those structures down.
A ha the sun has just come out for the first time today. The chamber of commerce can smile again.
Out here in Long Beach all the homes are of the bungalow type that you might see in the better sections of Rockaway. Palm trees line the residential streets just as maple trees a stringed along our streets in Woodhaven. I must compliment California on their beautiful schools. About six or seven years ago an earthquake tore down all the old structures and these new buildings replaced them. You might have seen some of them in the various movies. All modernistic and will kept campus really could make school enjoyable.
I had better close now. I almost forgot about chow so I have to hustle if I want to eat. Friday today- what can I eat?
Your loving son, brother, & nephew,
Jim
Monday, November 8, 2010
November 22, 1943
U.S. Naval Hospital- Long Beach, California
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,Read this letter and weep. I just come back from show of a delicious, tender steak, boiled potatoes, string beans, tomato juice and peaches. What a life.
I have been sleeping all morning, trying to recover from a hectic weekend. What a time I had. Saturday morning, three other cadets and myself started out , by car, for Tijuana, Mexico. It's a small town on the border and about 100 miles from Long Beach. It took us three hours before we hit San Diego, a fairly large town just this side of Mexico. One of the fellows had to see someone so I had a chance to look the place over. I never saw a place that was so turned over to the war. Consolidated Aircraft Co is located a few miles to the north of San Diego. I could hardly believe that a factory could be so large. It stretched for miles and miles. All of it covered in nets to camouflage the works. Small wooden houses were built over the nets, streets were layed out and even trees were growing over the entire plant.
When we finally reached the border we had to change all our money into two dollar bills, our money orders issued by U.S.. The were the only bills expected in New Mexico.
We had not trouble getting across the border since our I.D. cards were in order. On the other side of the border, you can secure a slip for four gallons of has. Car drivers living in San Diego can go over the border every day if they want to so the have no gas worries
Here's the payoff- of all the days I had to pick to see Mexico it was Independence day and everything was nailed shut. We couldn't do much more than get our 4 gallons of has and go back to San Diego. It was about 8 o'clock by this time and we were a little tire. Foolish as it seemed we started to look for rooms.
San Diego is a little larger than Jamaica. A Marine training station, Camp Pendleton with 15,000 men is only ten miles out of town and a Navy training station with 10,000 men is in the town and we were trying to find rooms. Just for the heck of it we stood on the corner and counted the civilians and service men that past by. The average was 28 to 1. Your can't imagine a place with so many service men. Millions of them. After trying about ten places we were going to sleep in the car. One of the boys wanted to take a crack at one more nice place. Him and another cadet went in a were lucky to get a room with double beds. They came out and told us the number of the room. About a half hour later the other cadet and myself leisurely walked into the hotel and up to the room. It was pretty good. The beds weren't big enough for two to sleep in so we flipped to see who slept on the floor. Luckily I---- spent the night using the rugs as a mattress. It wasn't too bad because I had the pillow and the other fellow had none- What a break???
Sleeping on the floor was comfortable for awhile then it became cold, mighty cold. I got up and put on the heat. I tried to roll up in the blanket but it didn't seem to do much good. It seems I will have to be much more than cold to lose sleep.
I woke a couple of times during the night, trying to get in better positions to keep warm. My friend on the floor was having the same trouble. When morning finally came we woke the other son of a guns up. No use letting them sleep. Too much might hurt them. Suddenly I noticed the two windows were wide open. The venetian blinds had blocked our view during the night and we had shut them the night before. One of the characters in the bed was a fresh air fiend and had opened them up again. We almost murdered him. One of the other boys and myself went to church while our friends caught a little more shut eye.
About ten o'clock we sneaked out of the hotel and due to the shortage of good old (???) we ate breakfast-dinner together.
Again we were Mexico bound. After crossing the border we picked up 4 more gallons of gas. Tijuana was crowded with Sunday visitors and caliente, another nearby Mexican town overflowed with horse racing fans. There was no sense in going to either one of those places. The only other half way decent town was Ensenada about a hundred miles down the coast. We had heard that further in Mexico we could get all the gas we wanted. A traveling we were - I have never seen such horrible roads called a highway in all my life. They were nothing more than wagon trails.
We ran across a farm house and thought we had better stop for water. There was smoke coming out of the radiator and that wasn't good. One of the cadets knocked on the door and a little Mexican stuck his head out and said in his best English " Sorry boys, we no open for business". After arguing in Spanish (out Spanish) we finally got him to give us water. When we went around the back we saw all these gambling tables piled up. I guess someone had some bad luck.
Later on we hit some good pavement and made Ensenada in two and a half hours. What a disappointment. It was a typical poor peasant village living off the fish from the sea and the visitors from the States. This town has a beautiful hotel that was used by many movie stars when the come down the coast for deep sea fishing. Now it is being used for a military reservation ( I hope that is what the sign meant). We walked all over the grounds and didn't see a soldier. Someone got the bright idea to get an American flag and run it up the flag pole. Hard as we looked we couldn't find one. Boy that would have started an international affair. About six o'clock we started back to the states. According to Navy regulations were only to be 50 miles away from the hospital. Here we were 200 miles away, so I think it was best we did make ourselves scarce.
I think I had better stop here and tell you about my trip back some other time. I don't think I will be able to send this letter air-mail if I use the other heavy paper (please excuse)
Jerry asked me to get him a sweater. Down here in the hospital they have a store of Navy equipment. If Jerry wants a black sweater and cap like mine, send me his size. I imagine he would like something that is regulation Navy. That can be his birthday present ( his 18th birthday) ( I will give it to him now though)
By the way, up here in ship's service I can get all the candy and cigarettes I want. 24 bars of Hershey only cost 24 cents. Tooth paste, razor blades, and all other toilet articles are for sale (no ration points). Maybe Pop would want something.
Do you realize this is the third letter I have written in sic days. Pretty good eh?
There doesn't seems to be much more to say except that my chances for a leave are increasing.
Your loving son brother and nephew,
Jim
P.S. My hand is just about broken.
November 17, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Here it is - the land of sunshine Beautiful California. Remember Mom how I said we were going to go to California some day. Well I am here now how are you going to get here? Give me time and the Chellis brain should start clicking.
I arrived here a few hours ago and this hospital is a beautiful place. I am in a wark with about fifteen other cadets. I have been talking to one of them and from what I gather this place is a racket. No study, no work, plenty of sleep and too ??? much liberty. The have moovies in the hospital every night.
Maybe I had better start from Las Vegsa and explain my wild trip to the hospital. Yesterday morning I was to catch the 0715 pullman. As could be expected, the train was two hours late. When it finally did come in, we were out of our bunks. Two Arabian knights had hired two entire cars.Some crust. We (three other cadets washed out and myself) had to wait another hr for the coach section of the train. We were lucky to get seats on that wreck. Without a doubt, Lincoln must have enjoyed riding in those cars but Chellis wasn't the least bit impressed with the air-conditioning. When we stopped at Albequerque, we took a shot in the dark and asked the ticket agent if there was a possibility of getting a pullman. Lucky us- for eight bucks a piece plus our government train tickets we could get a bedroom and an upper and a lower. Nothing like comfort, so we took them. We took our luggage off the wreck and waited a half hr for the "Chief".Oh what a beautiful train. One of those slick, silver, streamline jobs. One of the other cadets and myself took the bedroom. Boy I was living in style. My mother taught me to be a gentleman so I should live like a gentleman. That wsa real class, our own washbowl, toilet and all the privacy in the world. It was costing us a little more money but it was worth every bit of it.
We were furnished with meal tickets for a dollar a meal. That helped a little since my meal came to a little over two dollars. Boy-what food. Real class. I didn't know what to do with all the knifes and spoons they threw at me. I guess we were the only servicemen on the train that weren't officers.
After supper we went back to the lounge car. Boy we were sitting on the top of the world.
About 2030 we had the porter make up our bunks and then turned in.
At about 4 o'clock I was awoken by the door slamming against my bunk. I threw it shut and started to turn in again. Then I thought it would be a good idea to see if all my clothes and money were there. After carefully checking my pockers I discovered my orders had disappeared. That put me in a fix. I woke the other fellow and we turned the place up side down. After a fruitless search , we figured our sleep was being neglected so in to our bunks again.
I woke a couple of hrs later just to see the sun rising over the Rockies. Boy it was beautiful. As the sun rose higher, it's rays painted the rocky slopes into a gorgeous color blended backround. I layed in bed looking out the window, appreciating the beautiful scenery for almost an hour. By that time it was breakfast.
When we went to the diner I ask the stewart if he found my orders and, low an behold there they were. Luck of Irish.
What a breakfast I packed away. Those meals are few an far between so I went to make the most of them. This meal only cost me a buck and a half.
About noon today we arrived in Los Angeles. I don't want to describe the beautiful scenery I ran across this morning. that will come later on in another letter.
The other three cadets had to catch another train for San Diego so I bid them good bye. Coming down the platform from the train I passed by Anita Louise. She was waiting for her mother who was on the same train as I was on.
After checking my bags, I went over to the Los Angeles Selection Board where they gave me a routine physical and gave me orders to go to Long beach Naval Hospital. I picked up my baggage again and hopped a street car to Long Beach, then a cab to the hospital. That was my trip. Now I am "only" 3000 miles from home.
Speaking of home, I have heard that my chances of getting a leave are very bright. They don't even blink an eye when they give thirty days. It would be swell if I could get home for Christmas.
Before I forget it. I have been inquiring about cameras out here and it is next to impossible to buy one. I would sure love to take some pictures out here. Do you think you could rush one out here. If you can get films, it would be appreciated. Thanks a million.
That's about all for the present.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Here it is - the land of sunshine Beautiful California. Remember Mom how I said we were going to go to California some day. Well I am here now how are you going to get here? Give me time and the Chellis brain should start clicking.
I arrived here a few hours ago and this hospital is a beautiful place. I am in a wark with about fifteen other cadets. I have been talking to one of them and from what I gather this place is a racket. No study, no work, plenty of sleep and too ??? much liberty. The have moovies in the hospital every night.
Maybe I had better start from Las Vegsa and explain my wild trip to the hospital. Yesterday morning I was to catch the 0715 pullman. As could be expected, the train was two hours late. When it finally did come in, we were out of our bunks. Two Arabian knights had hired two entire cars.Some crust. We (three other cadets washed out and myself) had to wait another hr for the coach section of the train. We were lucky to get seats on that wreck. Without a doubt, Lincoln must have enjoyed riding in those cars but Chellis wasn't the least bit impressed with the air-conditioning. When we stopped at Albequerque, we took a shot in the dark and asked the ticket agent if there was a possibility of getting a pullman. Lucky us- for eight bucks a piece plus our government train tickets we could get a bedroom and an upper and a lower. Nothing like comfort, so we took them. We took our luggage off the wreck and waited a half hr for the "Chief".Oh what a beautiful train. One of those slick, silver, streamline jobs. One of the other cadets and myself took the bedroom. Boy I was living in style. My mother taught me to be a gentleman so I should live like a gentleman. That wsa real class, our own washbowl, toilet and all the privacy in the world. It was costing us a little more money but it was worth every bit of it.
We were furnished with meal tickets for a dollar a meal. That helped a little since my meal came to a little over two dollars. Boy-what food. Real class. I didn't know what to do with all the knifes and spoons they threw at me. I guess we were the only servicemen on the train that weren't officers.
After supper we went back to the lounge car. Boy we were sitting on the top of the world.
About 2030 we had the porter make up our bunks and then turned in.
At about 4 o'clock I was awoken by the door slamming against my bunk. I threw it shut and started to turn in again. Then I thought it would be a good idea to see if all my clothes and money were there. After carefully checking my pockers I discovered my orders had disappeared. That put me in a fix. I woke the other fellow and we turned the place up side down. After a fruitless search , we figured our sleep was being neglected so in to our bunks again.
I woke a couple of hrs later just to see the sun rising over the Rockies. Boy it was beautiful. As the sun rose higher, it's rays painted the rocky slopes into a gorgeous color blended backround. I layed in bed looking out the window, appreciating the beautiful scenery for almost an hour. By that time it was breakfast.
When we went to the diner I ask the stewart if he found my orders and, low an behold there they were. Luck of Irish.
What a breakfast I packed away. Those meals are few an far between so I went to make the most of them. This meal only cost me a buck and a half.
About noon today we arrived in Los Angeles. I don't want to describe the beautiful scenery I ran across this morning. that will come later on in another letter.
The other three cadets had to catch another train for San Diego so I bid them good bye. Coming down the platform from the train I passed by Anita Louise. She was waiting for her mother who was on the same train as I was on.
After checking my bags, I went over to the Los Angeles Selection Board where they gave me a routine physical and gave me orders to go to Long beach Naval Hospital. I picked up my baggage again and hopped a street car to Long Beach, then a cab to the hospital. That was my trip. Now I am "only" 3000 miles from home.
Speaking of home, I have heard that my chances of getting a leave are very bright. They don't even blink an eye when they give thirty days. It would be swell if I could get home for Christmas.
Before I forget it. I have been inquiring about cameras out here and it is next to impossible to buy one. I would sure love to take some pictures out here. Do you think you could rush one out here. If you can get films, it would be appreciated. Thanks a million.
That's about all for the present.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Early-Mid November, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry, and Mat,
I received letters from each one of my family in the last week. The last couple of weeks the mail has been very slow in reaching me. From the postmarks on you letters it has taken anywhere from five to seven days to reach Las Vegas. Maybe they are using a stagecoach again. I wouldn't put it past some of these people.
I received Mom's letter yesterday with the pictures. Boy you really got a bargain on that deal or .........did you?
Speaking of pictures here's a couple we sneaked in here. The sailor is the pharmacists,in other words, the entire medial dept. Boy my friend "Trosky" would have loved to catch us taking those pictures.
You know Mat, I just imagine Bub walking around with a shelaily in his hand. He's been singing that song so long, he must feel at home with one.
So Jerry is up to his old tricks of hustling on the chance books. Boy if he isn't rolling in money by twenty-five there will be something wrong with him.
I just came back from "Trosky's" office and boy I have news. Remember I had to get a letter from the hospital about my knee when I enlisted. Well it seems before a cadet goes to pre-flight school they check his records to see if any physical handicap may affect his training. "Trosky" told me that they have had so many cases where a cadet aggravates an old injury where is was possible to avoid it. I never heard of it before but I am not kicking. I was just talking to the pharmacists mate and he says it's nothing to worry about. I will have to go to some hospital and get some sort of treatments. He was out in Long Beach Naval Hospital before he came here and he claims there were plenty of those cases. Pre-flight school is all exercises so they don't want to take any chances. Here's the best part of the deal. I am to leave next week some time. All the rest of the boys have to stay here for a few more weeks and I am to meet them at pre-flight school. Boy you must be able to hear the boys curse my luck. The pharmacists mate has been talking to them about the cadets he knew back in Long Beach. They had liberty every night. The hospital was only a few miles from Los Angeles and Hollywood so there was plenty to do. Boy that sounds like some racket if I ever get to that hospital. Keep your fingers crossed.
Gene is going around knocking his knee against the wall. Ha Ha poor boy.
Well I guess that's about all. You might as well keep sending the mail here. They will forward it to me.
Finally getting to see California, "The land of sunshine" - California chamber of commerce.
Your loving son, brother, nephew,
Jim
I received letters from each one of my family in the last week. The last couple of weeks the mail has been very slow in reaching me. From the postmarks on you letters it has taken anywhere from five to seven days to reach Las Vegas. Maybe they are using a stagecoach again. I wouldn't put it past some of these people.
I received Mom's letter yesterday with the pictures. Boy you really got a bargain on that deal or .........did you?
Speaking of pictures here's a couple we sneaked in here. The sailor is the pharmacists,in other words, the entire medial dept. Boy my friend "Trosky" would have loved to catch us taking those pictures.
You know Mat, I just imagine Bub walking around with a shelaily in his hand. He's been singing that song so long, he must feel at home with one.
So Jerry is up to his old tricks of hustling on the chance books. Boy if he isn't rolling in money by twenty-five there will be something wrong with him.
I just came back from "Trosky's" office and boy I have news. Remember I had to get a letter from the hospital about my knee when I enlisted. Well it seems before a cadet goes to pre-flight school they check his records to see if any physical handicap may affect his training. "Trosky" told me that they have had so many cases where a cadet aggravates an old injury where is was possible to avoid it. I never heard of it before but I am not kicking. I was just talking to the pharmacists mate and he says it's nothing to worry about. I will have to go to some hospital and get some sort of treatments. He was out in Long Beach Naval Hospital before he came here and he claims there were plenty of those cases. Pre-flight school is all exercises so they don't want to take any chances. Here's the best part of the deal. I am to leave next week some time. All the rest of the boys have to stay here for a few more weeks and I am to meet them at pre-flight school. Boy you must be able to hear the boys curse my luck. The pharmacists mate has been talking to them about the cadets he knew back in Long Beach. They had liberty every night. The hospital was only a few miles from Los Angeles and Hollywood so there was plenty to do. Boy that sounds like some racket if I ever get to that hospital. Keep your fingers crossed.
Gene is going around knocking his knee against the wall. Ha Ha poor boy.
Well I guess that's about all. You might as well keep sending the mail here. They will forward it to me.
Finally getting to see California, "The land of sunshine" - California chamber of commerce.
Your loving son, brother, nephew,
Jim
Early November , 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
I received both packages and thank you very much. Matter of fact, there's a few more cadets that thank you. The cake was most pleasing to the stomach and it certainly brought back old memories. The suit and all it's "trimmings" arrived in good shape. The big dance is suppose to be this coming Saturday.
By the way Mom, you can put that $9.51 away some place as it belongs to the Ramblers.
Haven't heard anything about a rain storm along the coast. Remember I am in no white man's land. Pony express will come in someday with the report.
Most of the boys got a kick out of reading "The News". I saw "The Great Peters", the man that hangs himself several times at Madison Square Garden. The first time I saw it was about four years ago. I remember Spencer wouldn't watch him jump.
Say Mom, will you please send me Ray McWilliams address. I have been trying to get in touch with him for quite awhile. I bet he has plenty of stories to tell.
I have some good news. According to the scuttlebutt floating around here we are going to be sent to California in the near future. Nothing definite but everyone has their fingers crossed. Most of the boys figure we will have a swell chance for a leave from there. Naturally I will get to see that California weather everyone has been talking about. No one knows when we will be shoving off so I can't give any definite time. If you want anything from California don't be afraid to ask.
I hope everyone will excuse me for not answering letter properly but half the time I am walking around in a fog. The other half of the time, I am trying to avoid "Trosky" (our C.O.)
My hear bleeds for Jerry that he has no school. That poor, poor, boy. I bet he doesn't know what to do with all the time he has on his hands.
What's the matter with Jerry that he is getting disgusted with the Ramblers. My scouts have reported that the water boy is driving the little women wild. They think he is "cute". Isn't that nice, Jerry dear. Ha! Ha!
Well chow call draws near so I had better close.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
P.S. I haven't the slightest idea where I am going to get an envelope for this letter. I hope you get this letter someday.
P.S. Thanks again for everything.
I received both packages and thank you very much. Matter of fact, there's a few more cadets that thank you. The cake was most pleasing to the stomach and it certainly brought back old memories. The suit and all it's "trimmings" arrived in good shape. The big dance is suppose to be this coming Saturday.
By the way Mom, you can put that $9.51 away some place as it belongs to the Ramblers.
Haven't heard anything about a rain storm along the coast. Remember I am in no white man's land. Pony express will come in someday with the report.
Most of the boys got a kick out of reading "The News". I saw "The Great Peters", the man that hangs himself several times at Madison Square Garden. The first time I saw it was about four years ago. I remember Spencer wouldn't watch him jump.
Say Mom, will you please send me Ray McWilliams address. I have been trying to get in touch with him for quite awhile. I bet he has plenty of stories to tell.
I have some good news. According to the scuttlebutt floating around here we are going to be sent to California in the near future. Nothing definite but everyone has their fingers crossed. Most of the boys figure we will have a swell chance for a leave from there. Naturally I will get to see that California weather everyone has been talking about. No one knows when we will be shoving off so I can't give any definite time. If you want anything from California don't be afraid to ask.
I hope everyone will excuse me for not answering letter properly but half the time I am walking around in a fog. The other half of the time, I am trying to avoid "Trosky" (our C.O.)
My hear bleeds for Jerry that he has no school. That poor, poor, boy. I bet he doesn't know what to do with all the time he has on his hands.
What's the matter with Jerry that he is getting disgusted with the Ramblers. My scouts have reported that the water boy is driving the little women wild. They think he is "cute". Isn't that nice, Jerry dear. Ha! Ha!
Well chow call draws near so I had better close.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
P.S. I haven't the slightest idea where I am going to get an envelope for this letter. I hope you get this letter someday.
P.S. Thanks again for everything.
Friday, October 22, 2010
As Pop would say, "One day nearer victory".
Dear Folks,
Another week has passed by another week to come, to contend with our Commanding officer alias "Trosky" "Field Marshall" "Goering" and the other censored names. Boy he is a son o a gun. I bet he beats his daughter every night just to end the day. If thoughts would kill he would have lived to the ripe old age of 1 wk.. I am not kidding, there's not one cadet that likes this bird.
Gene Cole is the only one in our platoon that hasn't finished flying in class B stage. He is way behind everyone else because of that leave. Last week he had to take a make-up test every night and he still doesn't know how he made it. Gene didn't like this space before he went home but now he curses it every other minute.
In the past week we moved our quarters downstairs because of our decreasing numbers.
Bob Condon received a down check from the flight officer. He is flying on probation and must show great improvement in the next 6 hours or else. Poor Bob is starting to show poor marks in ground school because of worrying about flying. A final test in Aerology is coming up and his average is below so he will have to do some hustling.
Gene went to sick bay complaining of a pain in the back. The took some x-ray pictures but they didn't show anything wrong. As a safety measure he has to stay in bed over the weekend. Boy did I give him the horse laugh. He was out of a gym a couple of days and was living the life of Riley.
Some of the boys went out horseback riding and have just come back. Poor guys are in agony from a sunburn and a sore ----.
Show in a few minutes so I will say Adios amigos (my entire Spanish vocabulary) .
Your loving son, brother, nephew
Jim
P.S. Have no fear I will try to write a couple of letters this week.
Another week has passed by another week to come, to contend with our Commanding officer alias "Trosky" "Field Marshall" "Goering" and the other censored names. Boy he is a son o a gun. I bet he beats his daughter every night just to end the day. If thoughts would kill he would have lived to the ripe old age of 1 wk.. I am not kidding, there's not one cadet that likes this bird.
Gene Cole is the only one in our platoon that hasn't finished flying in class B stage. He is way behind everyone else because of that leave. Last week he had to take a make-up test every night and he still doesn't know how he made it. Gene didn't like this space before he went home but now he curses it every other minute.
In the past week we moved our quarters downstairs because of our decreasing numbers.
Bob Condon received a down check from the flight officer. He is flying on probation and must show great improvement in the next 6 hours or else. Poor Bob is starting to show poor marks in ground school because of worrying about flying. A final test in Aerology is coming up and his average is below so he will have to do some hustling.
Gene went to sick bay complaining of a pain in the back. The took some x-ray pictures but they didn't show anything wrong. As a safety measure he has to stay in bed over the weekend. Boy did I give him the horse laugh. He was out of a gym a couple of days and was living the life of Riley.
Some of the boys went out horseback riding and have just come back. Poor guys are in agony from a sunburn and a sore ----.
Show in a few minutes so I will say Adios amigos (my entire Spanish vocabulary) .
Your loving son, brother, nephew
Jim
P.S. Have no fear I will try to write a couple of letters this week.
October 24, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Haven't had much time to write during the week so here I am again writing in my few hours of rest. I think I have forgotten what the work "rest" means. "Trosky" our C.O. never gives us time to remember anything.
We had a little accident here the other day. One of the boys in the platoon behind us had a crack up. Luckily he wasn't hurt bad. He was foolish enough to try and turn too close to the ground. He lost control of the plane for a few seconds and just pulled the plane up before he hit the ground with the tip of his wing. The plane did a twist in the air and landed flat. The accident only occurred a few miles from the airport so they were able to give him first aid. The cadet was in the hospital for a couple of days just as a matter of insurance that he is O.K..
Most likely they will wash him out. The Navy doesn't have much sympathy for you if you try stunts like that.
Didn't get any demerits this week. Maybe it was because they didn't have a room inspection.
I just received a letter from Vin Candia. Remember he was a washout the last few days back in Troy. He is going to be shipped to Florida in a radio school.
They are certainly breaking up the platoon out here. There are only 17 left out of 25 that started six weeks ago. Navy is getting mighty particular lately.
By the way I received my picture and thanks again. Gene and I took some pictures the other day while we were goldbricking. They turned out pretty crumby.
That's about all from the land of enchantment.
Your loving son, brother, nephew,
Jim
P.S. This pen is "for the birds" I lost my good Parker pen so I think I will buy a good one.
Haven't had much time to write during the week so here I am again writing in my few hours of rest. I think I have forgotten what the work "rest" means. "Trosky" our C.O. never gives us time to remember anything.
We had a little accident here the other day. One of the boys in the platoon behind us had a crack up. Luckily he wasn't hurt bad. He was foolish enough to try and turn too close to the ground. He lost control of the plane for a few seconds and just pulled the plane up before he hit the ground with the tip of his wing. The plane did a twist in the air and landed flat. The accident only occurred a few miles from the airport so they were able to give him first aid. The cadet was in the hospital for a couple of days just as a matter of insurance that he is O.K..
Most likely they will wash him out. The Navy doesn't have much sympathy for you if you try stunts like that.
Didn't get any demerits this week. Maybe it was because they didn't have a room inspection.
I just received a letter from Vin Candia. Remember he was a washout the last few days back in Troy. He is going to be shipped to Florida in a radio school.
They are certainly breaking up the platoon out here. There are only 17 left out of 25 that started six weeks ago. Navy is getting mighty particular lately.
By the way I received my picture and thanks again. Gene and I took some pictures the other day while we were goldbricking. They turned out pretty crumby.
That's about all from the land of enchantment.
Your loving son, brother, nephew,
Jim
P.S. This pen is "for the birds" I lost my good Parker pen so I think I will buy a good one.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
October 19, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Finally found a few minutes to spare. I am learning the in and outs of this place that I can squeeze a few extra minures out of the day. Last few days have been cloudy with a low ceiling that flying has been grounded.
Say Mom do you think you can pack my blue suit and send it on here. They are having a big dance in a week or so and we are permitted to wear blues. I will send home some money in a week or so to pay any bills. I am running up. Please send it as soon as possible Mom. I sure would appreciate it. Don't forget shirts, collars, buttons, and such. Thanks a million.
That son of a gun of a C.O. was around again on inspections. Finally beat him, because I didn't get any demerits.
Have you heard from Bub lately? I received on letter from him and no more.
I think they are going to put Gene pack to platoon because he missed so much school work. Gene hasn't been his self since he came back. It came to him so suddenly that it knocked him flat on his back.
Guess I had better stop now. Class starts in a few minutes and I have shoes to shine.
Waiting to hear from everyone.
Love to all,
Jim
Finally found a few minutes to spare. I am learning the in and outs of this place that I can squeeze a few extra minures out of the day. Last few days have been cloudy with a low ceiling that flying has been grounded.
Say Mom do you think you can pack my blue suit and send it on here. They are having a big dance in a week or so and we are permitted to wear blues. I will send home some money in a week or so to pay any bills. I am running up. Please send it as soon as possible Mom. I sure would appreciate it. Don't forget shirts, collars, buttons, and such. Thanks a million.
That son of a gun of a C.O. was around again on inspections. Finally beat him, because I didn't get any demerits.
Have you heard from Bub lately? I received on letter from him and no more.
I think they are going to put Gene pack to platoon because he missed so much school work. Gene hasn't been his self since he came back. It came to him so suddenly that it knocked him flat on his back.
Guess I had better stop now. Class starts in a few minutes and I have shoes to shine.
Waiting to hear from everyone.
Love to all,
Jim
October 12, 1943- Postcard
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
Tuesday Oct ??? and all is well. No one could fly yesterday - too much wind. It would have been suicide to try and land one of these small planes. That is only the second we weren't able to fly in 6 wks. The other time there was too low a ceiling.
Pop you see what is happening to your dear radio. Everyone and their cousins are trying to get the darn thing to work. It didn't give any signs of life until one of the cadets fitted it with a new plug. Now we get a humming but no stations. There's only one station we can get Las Vegas WFUN. That's how far we are from civilization. No demerits so far this week. That's about all.
Jim
Tuesday Oct ??? and all is well. No one could fly yesterday - too much wind. It would have been suicide to try and land one of these small planes. That is only the second we weren't able to fly in 6 wks. The other time there was too low a ceiling.
Pop you see what is happening to your dear radio. Everyone and their cousins are trying to get the darn thing to work. It didn't give any signs of life until one of the cadets fitted it with a new plug. Now we get a humming but no stations. There's only one station we can get Las Vegas WFUN. That's how far we are from civilization. No demerits so far this week. That's about all.
Jim
October 9,1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry , Mary and Mat,
Received letters from Mom, Mary, Mom and Jerry this week. Sure glad to hear "hometown" new.
Well Jerry I don't think I can get that sailor's hat for you out here but I suggest you go ahead and buy it now. Mother can give you the money and I will pay her. I didn't send you anything so that can be a present. For Christmas I can buy you a good pen. By the way Jerry what does " civiliyon" mean. You wrote " Your favorite civiliyon" in your last letter.
Mary- Evelyn never did send me those cookies. I imagine it was because I never wrote to her. glad to hear that you are doing so much in that salvage drive.
It was good to hear that Mat & Mom enjoyed that supper so much. I only hope I can send more money home for more suppers. I am sorry to hear that Jerry couldn't find the Ramblers. By the way, maybe it was a good thing he didn't see them because they lost. Next time.
Jerry doesn't know where they are playing eh ought to call up Spellman. He would certainly help him out.
Lately I have been practicing landings in spots. That's about the past part of flying I guess. Probably because it's quick thinking have to keep you on your toes. It's comical to watch the instructors stand near the runway and signal their students in for a landing. They are more nervous than any of the cadets. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them die from heart failure some day.
I haven't heard a word from Gene yet. I imagined he is on the double all the time. Poor guy was a nervous wreck when he left here Saturday night.
Received five demerits yesterday at a room inspection. The son of a gun pulled my bed out, climbed under the desk, dragged out the bureaus and couldn't find any dust. Boy, I thought I had the C.O. right where I wanted him but..... along comes a little breeze from the hall. Out from under one of the legs of the desk comes scuttling a little piece of dust. Right before the C.O.'s eyes. There's no justice. This is the sad ending to my letter.
The Navy,
Jim
Received letters from Mom, Mary, Mom and Jerry this week. Sure glad to hear "hometown" new.
Well Jerry I don't think I can get that sailor's hat for you out here but I suggest you go ahead and buy it now. Mother can give you the money and I will pay her. I didn't send you anything so that can be a present. For Christmas I can buy you a good pen. By the way Jerry what does " civiliyon" mean. You wrote " Your favorite civiliyon" in your last letter.
Mary- Evelyn never did send me those cookies. I imagine it was because I never wrote to her. glad to hear that you are doing so much in that salvage drive.
It was good to hear that Mat & Mom enjoyed that supper so much. I only hope I can send more money home for more suppers. I am sorry to hear that Jerry couldn't find the Ramblers. By the way, maybe it was a good thing he didn't see them because they lost. Next time.
Jerry doesn't know where they are playing eh ought to call up Spellman. He would certainly help him out.
Lately I have been practicing landings in spots. That's about the past part of flying I guess. Probably because it's quick thinking have to keep you on your toes. It's comical to watch the instructors stand near the runway and signal their students in for a landing. They are more nervous than any of the cadets. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them die from heart failure some day.
I haven't heard a word from Gene yet. I imagined he is on the double all the time. Poor guy was a nervous wreck when he left here Saturday night.
Received five demerits yesterday at a room inspection. The son of a gun pulled my bed out, climbed under the desk, dragged out the bureaus and couldn't find any dust. Boy, I thought I had the C.O. right where I wanted him but..... along comes a little breeze from the hall. Out from under one of the legs of the desk comes scuttling a little piece of dust. Right before the C.O.'s eyes. There's no justice. This is the sad ending to my letter.
The Navy,
Jim
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
October 8, 1943 - Postcard
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry , Mary and Mat,
Received letters from Jerry & Mary yesterday and from Mom & Mat today.
The paid us today but only $35. We usually get $38. I imagine they are starting to take out for my bond. I will not send any money home this check as I would like to have some spare money in case of an emergency.
I have 33 hours in air to date. Lately the air has been very bumpy. The plane is tossed around like a Mexican jumping bean.
I imagine Gene has dropped in to see you. I am alone in the room and certainly miss someone to battle with.
How's that Rambler team making out, Jerry? I hope they are doing a little better than last year.
I have fallen back in my letter writing. Time is gold out here and you certainly battle for every bit of it.
Jim
Received letters from Jerry & Mary yesterday and from Mom & Mat today.
The paid us today but only $35. We usually get $38. I imagine they are starting to take out for my bond. I will not send any money home this check as I would like to have some spare money in case of an emergency.
I have 33 hours in air to date. Lately the air has been very bumpy. The plane is tossed around like a Mexican jumping bean.
I imagine Gene has dropped in to see you. I am alone in the room and certainly miss someone to battle with.
How's that Rambler team making out, Jerry? I hope they are doing a little better than last year.
I have fallen back in my letter writing. Time is gold out here and you certainly battle for every bit of it.
Jim
October 6, 1943- Postcard
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
Didn't fly today because I was cadet officer of the day. It is a good thing because everyone said it was very bumpy today. I was up for two hours yesterday and certainly was tossed around plenty. First up then your down. The wind plays no favorites.
Received a letter from Bobby yesterday. I imagine he will stay in Idaho for the winder.
Still haven't issued us our winter greens and it's getting darn cold. I wonder what happened to the "sunny south". We get liberty to get a haircuts in town, we always have to wear our overcoats. Nobody ever gets colds though. Must be the clear air up here. That is about all. I have to go to drill in ten minutes.
Jim
Didn't fly today because I was cadet officer of the day. It is a good thing because everyone said it was very bumpy today. I was up for two hours yesterday and certainly was tossed around plenty. First up then your down. The wind plays no favorites.
Received a letter from Bobby yesterday. I imagine he will stay in Idaho for the winder.
Still haven't issued us our winter greens and it's getting darn cold. I wonder what happened to the "sunny south". We get liberty to get a haircuts in town, we always have to wear our overcoats. Nobody ever gets colds though. Must be the clear air up here. That is about all. I have to go to drill in ten minutes.
Jim
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
September 30, 1943- Postcard
Dear Folks,
Had a stage check flight yesterday. I passed it so that means I will most certainly be around for a few more weeks.
Yesterday was a bad day here. They washed out 5 men. That is quite a bit as there are only 55 here.
Received letters from Mom, Mat and Jerry yesterday.
Gene Cole is in sick bay with a bad case of dysentery. I have been pretty lucky in that respect so far.
I hope those few gifts have arrived. I forgot what I bought so I can't ell what's for who. You ought to be able to figure it out though.
I guess that is about all.
Jim
Had a stage check flight yesterday. I passed it so that means I will most certainly be around for a few more weeks.
Yesterday was a bad day here. They washed out 5 men. That is quite a bit as there are only 55 here.
Received letters from Mom, Mat and Jerry yesterday.
Gene Cole is in sick bay with a bad case of dysentery. I have been pretty lucky in that respect so far.
I hope those few gifts have arrived. I forgot what I bought so I can't ell what's for who. You ought to be able to figure it out though.
I guess that is about all.
Jim
October 2, 1943
Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
This week I received letters from Mat, Mom and Pop and a card from Jerry. Too bad your pen broke Jerry because I will have to buy you a new one. This time I will pay a "little" more.
To date I have 27 hours in the air. Nine of these hours have been solo. That's starting to add up.
About the only experience I can speak of this week is what happened this morning. They changed our time of flight from 6 to 10 to 10 to 1400. We didn't know what we were in for until noon. Cumulus clouds were forming at about 1200 ft causing terrific thermal convective currents. There was very little wind so I figured on a nice ride. I started down the runway, full throttle and going like a mad-man. I pulled back on the stick and the plane climbed into the air. The plane was no more than fifty feet off the ground before it started into the tricks. First one wing would dip then the other. I was having a heck of a time trying to get the altitudes. I was about seventy five feet high when I flied over the end of the runway. It seemed as if I was in an elevator, as a thermal current caught the plane. The wind just pushed it up a hundred feet within a few seconds. I was scared then. The plane could just as easily get caught in a downdraft and I would lose a hundred or more feet. Luckily I didn't hit any of these winds until I had sufficient altitude. I tried my darndest to keep the plane in level flight but it just wouldn't go. As went the wind, so went Chellis. what a ride. I was worse than a roller coaster. Once I hit an air pocket the plane just dropped vertically and Chellis wacked his bean on the roof. Boy did I drop, but fast. After trying a few maneuvers I gave up any idea of flying for today. Now the problems was trying to land her.
I made the approach with not too much trouble and tried to level her off with the ground. The wind again went to work on me. The plane was slipping and sliding to beat the band. I worked like a demon, urging it on slowly and surely. I was mightily happy boy to feel solid ground under me again, as the plane slowed down on the runway.
No fooling, my stomach felt funny after the ride. It's nice clear stable air for me when I am flying in these light planes.
Gene Cole just got out of sick bay today. He was in there for three days, living the life of Riley. The doctoer said he might have sinus trouble but nothing is definite for another week.
Have you heard that Augie Suhay is missing in action? He is the one that was with Geof and the brother of Mary's friend "Anne May" Suhay.
Not much more to say so I will close now.
The Navy Jim
Oct 3rd
P.S. Last night (October 2nd) Gene Cole
This week I received letters from Mat, Mom and Pop and a card from Jerry. Too bad your pen broke Jerry because I will have to buy you a new one. This time I will pay a "little" more.
To date I have 27 hours in the air. Nine of these hours have been solo. That's starting to add up.
About the only experience I can speak of this week is what happened this morning. They changed our time of flight from 6 to 10 to 10 to 1400. We didn't know what we were in for until noon. Cumulus clouds were forming at about 1200 ft causing terrific thermal convective currents. There was very little wind so I figured on a nice ride. I started down the runway, full throttle and going like a mad-man. I pulled back on the stick and the plane climbed into the air. The plane was no more than fifty feet off the ground before it started into the tricks. First one wing would dip then the other. I was having a heck of a time trying to get the altitudes. I was about seventy five feet high when I flied over the end of the runway. It seemed as if I was in an elevator, as a thermal current caught the plane. The wind just pushed it up a hundred feet within a few seconds. I was scared then. The plane could just as easily get caught in a downdraft and I would lose a hundred or more feet. Luckily I didn't hit any of these winds until I had sufficient altitude. I tried my darndest to keep the plane in level flight but it just wouldn't go. As went the wind, so went Chellis. what a ride. I was worse than a roller coaster. Once I hit an air pocket the plane just dropped vertically and Chellis wacked his bean on the roof. Boy did I drop, but fast. After trying a few maneuvers I gave up any idea of flying for today. Now the problems was trying to land her.
I made the approach with not too much trouble and tried to level her off with the ground. The wind again went to work on me. The plane was slipping and sliding to beat the band. I worked like a demon, urging it on slowly and surely. I was mightily happy boy to feel solid ground under me again, as the plane slowed down on the runway.
No fooling, my stomach felt funny after the ride. It's nice clear stable air for me when I am flying in these light planes.
Gene Cole just got out of sick bay today. He was in there for three days, living the life of Riley. The doctoer said he might have sinus trouble but nothing is definite for another week.
Have you heard that Augie Suhay is missing in action? He is the one that was with Geof and the brother of Mary's friend "Anne May" Suhay.
Not much more to say so I will close now.
The Navy Jim
Oct 3rd
P.S. Last night (October 2nd) Gene Cole
Sunday, October 10, 2010
September 28, 1943
Dear Folks,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still around.
Was up for 1 1/2 hours today. That makes 21 hours all together.
I forgot to tell you that the bracelet and necklace I sent home is for Mary. Couldn't get anything for Jerry. But have no fear I will keep looking.
It's a good thing I brought that overcoat and jacket here. Down here in the "south" it is cold, mighty cold. One of the janitors was telling me that they have plenty of ice-skating in the winter. The "sunny south" is baloney.
Received a letter from Don Mallone the other day.
Have to go to chow so will sing off.
Jim
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still around.
Was up for 1 1/2 hours today. That makes 21 hours all together.
I forgot to tell you that the bracelet and necklace I sent home is for Mary. Couldn't get anything for Jerry. But have no fear I will keep looking.
It's a good thing I brought that overcoat and jacket here. Down here in the "south" it is cold, mighty cold. One of the janitors was telling me that they have plenty of ice-skating in the winter. The "sunny south" is baloney.
Received a letter from Don Mallone the other day.
Have to go to chow so will sing off.
Jim
Saturday, October 2, 2010
September 26, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
Sunday again and more letter writing. During the past week I received letters from Mom, Pop, and Jerry, also the package of clothes and food. It certainly is a life saver to have a little something between meals.
This morning Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself received permission to miss breakfast so we could receive Communion. The only time we can go to confession is just before Mass. After coming out of the sacristy, we walked down the aisle and sat in the first empty seats we saw. We didn't notice it at first but we we sat square in the middle of the children's section. We did feel like jerks. The three of us towered far over all these little brats. I don't know whether it's a law or not but these Mexican kids never grown over four feet. I am not kidding. I have never seen so many small children in all my life. Coming out of church I nearly tripped over a number of them.
By the way, thanks for the medal Mom. I put it in my jacket.
I beg to inform you that I received a few demerits yesterday as I was captain of the head (bathroom). Gene was room captain and was restricted over the weekend for un-military like room. What a laugh. You can dust these rooms and an hour later the dirt is just as thick as before.
Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself ate breakfast out. On the way back to the school we ran into a gift shop. I mad a few purchases and had them sent out. The lady said they would probably reach New York Friday or Saturday. There isn't much but I will keep looking. Most of the junk was made by Indians, so they say. I can understand that after seeing the number of them that float in and out of Las Vegas. Do you know they dress the same as the cowboy pictures show them? I thought that was Hollywood style but I guess it is the real McCoy.
I guess you would like to know how I am making out with flying. Swell- I was up for three hours of solo this week. What a time I had. Kick the controls around, the plane goes all over and phew- you slowly bring the ship at straight and level. I always wanted to try a dive so I brought the pane up to 3,000 ft and let loose. Did I go down fast. What a force on you body when you pull out though. It's hard to move. Flying is a lot of fun but it's much more work than I ever realized. Yesterday when I was up, a few miles to the west I could see a fog rolling in and out of the mountains. What a sight. It looked almost like a wave of water but didn't move quite as fast.
Most of the boys have recovered from their cases of dysentery. They really had sick bay flooded for a few days there.
What a time I had on my Shore Patrol last night. The first time it rained and it had to be while I was out. Our duties were to check all the cadets and keep them out of trouble. We travel in pairs and had to go in every gin mill in town, look around and walk out. Luckily we didn't have any trouble but some tough looking characters. I will never talk about New York's east side again.
I guess there isn't much more to say. I have quite a few letters to write. Last Sunday I hit a new high for writing letters. I wrote no less than nine. I was punchy by the time I sealed the last one.
Your Navy boy,
Jim
Sunday again and more letter writing. During the past week I received letters from Mom, Pop, and Jerry, also the package of clothes and food. It certainly is a life saver to have a little something between meals.
This morning Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself received permission to miss breakfast so we could receive Communion. The only time we can go to confession is just before Mass. After coming out of the sacristy, we walked down the aisle and sat in the first empty seats we saw. We didn't notice it at first but we we sat square in the middle of the children's section. We did feel like jerks. The three of us towered far over all these little brats. I don't know whether it's a law or not but these Mexican kids never grown over four feet. I am not kidding. I have never seen so many small children in all my life. Coming out of church I nearly tripped over a number of them.
By the way, thanks for the medal Mom. I put it in my jacket.
I beg to inform you that I received a few demerits yesterday as I was captain of the head (bathroom). Gene was room captain and was restricted over the weekend for un-military like room. What a laugh. You can dust these rooms and an hour later the dirt is just as thick as before.
Jack Burns, Bob Condon and myself ate breakfast out. On the way back to the school we ran into a gift shop. I mad a few purchases and had them sent out. The lady said they would probably reach New York Friday or Saturday. There isn't much but I will keep looking. Most of the junk was made by Indians, so they say. I can understand that after seeing the number of them that float in and out of Las Vegas. Do you know they dress the same as the cowboy pictures show them? I thought that was Hollywood style but I guess it is the real McCoy.
I guess you would like to know how I am making out with flying. Swell- I was up for three hours of solo this week. What a time I had. Kick the controls around, the plane goes all over and phew- you slowly bring the ship at straight and level. I always wanted to try a dive so I brought the pane up to 3,000 ft and let loose. Did I go down fast. What a force on you body when you pull out though. It's hard to move. Flying is a lot of fun but it's much more work than I ever realized. Yesterday when I was up, a few miles to the west I could see a fog rolling in and out of the mountains. What a sight. It looked almost like a wave of water but didn't move quite as fast.
Most of the boys have recovered from their cases of dysentery. They really had sick bay flooded for a few days there.
What a time I had on my Shore Patrol last night. The first time it rained and it had to be while I was out. Our duties were to check all the cadets and keep them out of trouble. We travel in pairs and had to go in every gin mill in town, look around and walk out. Luckily we didn't have any trouble but some tough looking characters. I will never talk about New York's east side again.
I guess there isn't much more to say. I have quite a few letters to write. Last Sunday I hit a new high for writing letters. I wrote no less than nine. I was punchy by the time I sealed the last one.
Your Navy boy,
Jim
September 22, 1943
Dear Mom and Pop,
Haven't had much time to write but I just wanted to drop a few lines.
Enclosed is a money order for $60 sixty dollars. As soon as Pop cashes it, you can take out for all my bills. Since I didn't buy anything for the family yet, why not go out to supper some night and take the money out of this order. The remainder of the money Mom can out in the bank. Can't do anything with money out here so I might as well save it.
What epidemic of dysentery is running through our platoon. We have six men out of 24 in sick bay with it. Nearly everyone is afraid to buy anything in town even when it is sealed. It is really comical. After each class, there is a mad rush for the "head". If you can spare a few crackers to feed some hunger stricken boy we would appreciate it. Between breakfast and lunch , we have a wait of seven hours and we get mighty hungry in the meantime.
Received letters from Bub and Bobby in the past three days.
Chow call. Will sign off.
Love, Jim
P.S. Have 14 hours of flight now. Plenty of fun when I go up alone.
Haven't had much time to write but I just wanted to drop a few lines.
Enclosed is a money order for $60 sixty dollars. As soon as Pop cashes it, you can take out for all my bills. Since I didn't buy anything for the family yet, why not go out to supper some night and take the money out of this order. The remainder of the money Mom can out in the bank. Can't do anything with money out here so I might as well save it.
What epidemic of dysentery is running through our platoon. We have six men out of 24 in sick bay with it. Nearly everyone is afraid to buy anything in town even when it is sealed. It is really comical. After each class, there is a mad rush for the "head". If you can spare a few crackers to feed some hunger stricken boy we would appreciate it. Between breakfast and lunch , we have a wait of seven hours and we get mighty hungry in the meantime.
Received letters from Bub and Bobby in the past three days.
Chow call. Will sign off.
Love, Jim
P.S. Have 14 hours of flight now. Plenty of fun when I go up alone.
September 21, 1943- Postcard
Dear Folks,
Last two days have been practicing landing and takeoffs. Really a lot of fun.
Received letters from Bob and Bub today. Bub says that he might be called again for a examine.
Believe it of not they paid us. It was five weeks ago that we had last been paid. Sunday we were trying to dig up nickels and even pennies among 25 men now, everyone is throwing around ten dollar bills. That's the life.
Did I tell you that I am to be an S.P. this weekend. Well, I always wanted to be a cop. I am getting a little experience beforehand.
Not much more happening, so I will close now.
Jim
Last two days have been practicing landing and takeoffs. Really a lot of fun.
Received letters from Bob and Bub today. Bub says that he might be called again for a examine.
Believe it of not they paid us. It was five weeks ago that we had last been paid. Sunday we were trying to dig up nickels and even pennies among 25 men now, everyone is throwing around ten dollar bills. That's the life.
Did I tell you that I am to be an S.P. this weekend. Well, I always wanted to be a cop. I am getting a little experience beforehand.
Not much more happening, so I will close now.
Jim
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
September 19, 1943- First Solo Flight!
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry Mary, and Mat,
Guess what?! No I didn't have the chicken for dinner.... I didn't win a hundred bucks but ah........ at last, at last I soloed. What a thrill! What a sensation! What a ......... I don't know what to say. It was just swell.
This morning it all happened. Did I feel great when my instructor asked me, " Do you think you can take it up yourself?" There was only one answer and I certainly gave it to him.
He gave me a few last minute instructions then jumped out of the airplane. I cleared myself for the traffic, taxied into the runway, gave her the throttle, picked up the tail and raced down the runway. What a sensation as the plane picked up speed. I hung on the aileron controls for dear life and had my feet firmly on the rudder pedals. As soon as the air speed indicator showed 60 mph I slowly pulled back the wheel and the plane floated so gracefully into the air.
No kidding, you will never realize what a thrill it is to fly until you have actually done it yourself. I did a few maneuvers and then prepared for a landing.
I came into the traffic pattern, assumed the proper distance from the runway, cut the motor, started my glide and slowly circled in for a landing. I was going swell until some jerk cut in front of me. I could have killed the son of a gun. I slowed my glide, let him slip in front of me and then followed his plane in for a landing. Everything was working out perfectly until my plane became caught in his prop wash. I was about 25 feet off of the ground at the time. My left wing dipped about 45 degrees, the plane rocked back and forth, and I was down to ten feet before I gave her the throttle. That straightened her out. Oh my heart was in my mouth for that one second. The darn plane was heading for the ground at 70 mph so you can well imagine the thrill it was. ( As Bobby would say, " I came through in true Chellis spirit".) After correcting for wind drift, resuming my glide I set her down like laying a baby in a mother's arms. Boy, did I feel good. You could have hit me with the Rock of Gibralter and I would have kissed you.
I taxied over to the side of the runway and met my instructor. Poor guy was shaking. He was mighty pleased as to the way I handled the plane so he told me to take it up again, if I wanted to. That was a silly question to ask me.
I taxied her out to the runway, gave her throttle and again I was in the air. Didn't have a bit of trouble this time. Matter of fact, I made a perfect three point landing.
Up here they have a little ceremony for each cadet the solo's. I was to be no exception as my friends very plainly put it. Half way back to school the bus stopped and this began the simple but thorough ceremony.
There is a little creek that runs under a bridge, about five feet high above the water. It is as dirty as can be, since the mud at the bottom is like paste. The boys very obligingly removed my shoes, emptied out my pockets and four of them grabbed my arms and legs. In another second, was flying thru the air minus a plane this time. My "friend??" Gene Cole made sure that they gave me a little twist before they let go and boom I hit the water flat as a pancake. Oh was I wet. My clothes stuck to me like glue as I waded in the mud , out of the water. Everyone enjoyed themselves, but I was freezing. Oh it was great. Now I can laugh when their turn comes. The worse part of it all was standing in the bus on the way back. As soon as I got back to the school, I changed to dry clothes a felt like a million bucks. This is a day long to be remembered.
Dad I don't know if you have received my card I sent two days ago. If you haven't will you order two of those pictures of myself in the whites and send them to me.
I am glad to hear that McWilliams came in. Too bad, he didn't come in sooner then may be I could have seen him.
I had better stop now. I have so many letters to write it isn't even funny.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Guess what?! No I didn't have the chicken for dinner.... I didn't win a hundred bucks but ah........ at last, at last I soloed. What a thrill! What a sensation! What a ......... I don't know what to say. It was just swell.
This morning it all happened. Did I feel great when my instructor asked me, " Do you think you can take it up yourself?" There was only one answer and I certainly gave it to him.
He gave me a few last minute instructions then jumped out of the airplane. I cleared myself for the traffic, taxied into the runway, gave her the throttle, picked up the tail and raced down the runway. What a sensation as the plane picked up speed. I hung on the aileron controls for dear life and had my feet firmly on the rudder pedals. As soon as the air speed indicator showed 60 mph I slowly pulled back the wheel and the plane floated so gracefully into the air.
No kidding, you will never realize what a thrill it is to fly until you have actually done it yourself. I did a few maneuvers and then prepared for a landing.
I came into the traffic pattern, assumed the proper distance from the runway, cut the motor, started my glide and slowly circled in for a landing. I was going swell until some jerk cut in front of me. I could have killed the son of a gun. I slowed my glide, let him slip in front of me and then followed his plane in for a landing. Everything was working out perfectly until my plane became caught in his prop wash. I was about 25 feet off of the ground at the time. My left wing dipped about 45 degrees, the plane rocked back and forth, and I was down to ten feet before I gave her the throttle. That straightened her out. Oh my heart was in my mouth for that one second. The darn plane was heading for the ground at 70 mph so you can well imagine the thrill it was. ( As Bobby would say, " I came through in true Chellis spirit".) After correcting for wind drift, resuming my glide I set her down like laying a baby in a mother's arms. Boy, did I feel good. You could have hit me with the Rock of Gibralter and I would have kissed you.
I taxied over to the side of the runway and met my instructor. Poor guy was shaking. He was mighty pleased as to the way I handled the plane so he told me to take it up again, if I wanted to. That was a silly question to ask me.
I taxied her out to the runway, gave her throttle and again I was in the air. Didn't have a bit of trouble this time. Matter of fact, I made a perfect three point landing.
Up here they have a little ceremony for each cadet the solo's. I was to be no exception as my friends very plainly put it. Half way back to school the bus stopped and this began the simple but thorough ceremony.
There is a little creek that runs under a bridge, about five feet high above the water. It is as dirty as can be, since the mud at the bottom is like paste. The boys very obligingly removed my shoes, emptied out my pockets and four of them grabbed my arms and legs. In another second, was flying thru the air minus a plane this time. My "friend??" Gene Cole made sure that they gave me a little twist before they let go and boom I hit the water flat as a pancake. Oh was I wet. My clothes stuck to me like glue as I waded in the mud , out of the water. Everyone enjoyed themselves, but I was freezing. Oh it was great. Now I can laugh when their turn comes. The worse part of it all was standing in the bus on the way back. As soon as I got back to the school, I changed to dry clothes a felt like a million bucks. This is a day long to be remembered.
Dad I don't know if you have received my card I sent two days ago. If you haven't will you order two of those pictures of myself in the whites and send them to me.
I am glad to hear that McWilliams came in. Too bad, he didn't come in sooner then may be I could have seen him.
I had better stop now. I have so many letters to write it isn't even funny.
Your loving son, brother and nephew,
Jim
Sunday, September 26, 2010
September 14, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
I am starting to get the hang of the schedule now so I can squeeze a few lines in here and there. Fifteen minutes before chow so I will write as much as I can.
Received Mom's letter yesterday and was glas to hear what's happening way back in Old New York.
I had better give you the list of clothes I will need to have out here.
2 T shirts 1 pr kaki trousers
4 underpants 3 kaki shirts
2 undershirts 1 kaki hat
Pr black shoes 1 kaki shorts
4 pr black socks 1 blue & gold sweater
If you can spare a few crackers it would help fight off starvation for 3 young men.
Didn't go up today. The two fellows before had a little longer lesson so I will go up first tomorrow.
I have never seen so large a group of men that are so flat broke. I doubt if between the twenty five men in my platoon we can raise ten dollars. There has been a delay in our checks from New York, but the 20th we all should get 75 smackeronies. Gene and I are so broke we can't even get our laundry out Friday.
Next chance I get I will drop Geof a letter. I hope you haven't forgot to send me Bub's address. I promised him I would write.
They certainly do have beautiful weather out here. We have been here almost two weeks and I doubt if the sky has been cloudy for more than three hours straight.
Bob Condon's birthday was yesterday, and he just received a package from home. They sent him a cake, candles, birthday party paper caps and candy so Saturday night we are going to have a party. We'll never grow up, weill we. There's nothing else to do that night. Last Saturday night Gene and I went to bed at 8:30 beleive it or not.
Just came back from chow. Mashed potatoes, string beans, butterscotch pudding and something resembling meat. Oh is the meat tough out here. There's something peculiar about it though. If you yell giddy up the meat will jump off of the plate. I wonder why?
It certainly is a good thing I brought my jacket with me. We hit the deck at 0500 and start flying at 0615 and believe me it is plenty cold at that time of the day.
By the way, you wanted to know if I was living at an airport or a college. Well I live at the college and go to the airport by the school bus. The airport is about eight miles outside of town. They have no pictures of the school and we are not allowed cameras so there isn't much chance of me getting you any picture at all.
I guess there's not much more to say and I will have to go to Aerology class in a few minutes.
This is the Navy signing off
Jim
I am starting to get the hang of the schedule now so I can squeeze a few lines in here and there. Fifteen minutes before chow so I will write as much as I can.
Received Mom's letter yesterday and was glas to hear what's happening way back in Old New York.
I had better give you the list of clothes I will need to have out here.
2 T shirts 1 pr kaki trousers
4 underpants 3 kaki shirts
2 undershirts 1 kaki hat
Pr black shoes 1 kaki shorts
4 pr black socks 1 blue & gold sweater
If you can spare a few crackers it would help fight off starvation for 3 young men.
Didn't go up today. The two fellows before had a little longer lesson so I will go up first tomorrow.
I have never seen so large a group of men that are so flat broke. I doubt if between the twenty five men in my platoon we can raise ten dollars. There has been a delay in our checks from New York, but the 20th we all should get 75 smackeronies. Gene and I are so broke we can't even get our laundry out Friday.
Next chance I get I will drop Geof a letter. I hope you haven't forgot to send me Bub's address. I promised him I would write.
They certainly do have beautiful weather out here. We have been here almost two weeks and I doubt if the sky has been cloudy for more than three hours straight.
Bob Condon's birthday was yesterday, and he just received a package from home. They sent him a cake, candles, birthday party paper caps and candy so Saturday night we are going to have a party. We'll never grow up, weill we. There's nothing else to do that night. Last Saturday night Gene and I went to bed at 8:30 beleive it or not.
Just came back from chow. Mashed potatoes, string beans, butterscotch pudding and something resembling meat. Oh is the meat tough out here. There's something peculiar about it though. If you yell giddy up the meat will jump off of the plate. I wonder why?
It certainly is a good thing I brought my jacket with me. We hit the deck at 0500 and start flying at 0615 and believe me it is plenty cold at that time of the day.
By the way, you wanted to know if I was living at an airport or a college. Well I live at the college and go to the airport by the school bus. The airport is about eight miles outside of town. They have no pictures of the school and we are not allowed cameras so there isn't much chance of me getting you any picture at all.
I guess there's not much more to say and I will have to go to Aerology class in a few minutes.
This is the Navy signing off
Jim
September 8, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary Jerry, and Mat,
During the week I haven't had a chance to write a letter. I have two hours and fifteen minutes of flight so far. Today I felt as if I was getting the feel of flying. I should be able to get the hang of it to solo in a few hours. Received letter from Bobby the other day. He said he might go to Amarillo, Texas. He would have to come here because I am not allowed over a 5 mile radius and I must eat every meal at the school even when on liberty.
How is everything at home? As I said, there is very little chance of writing during the week so I will do all over the weekend. Has McWilliams written you? I sent him a letter to the return address on the letter he sent me and it was returned because it did not have the ship's name.
Love to all,
Jim
During the week I haven't had a chance to write a letter. I have two hours and fifteen minutes of flight so far. Today I felt as if I was getting the feel of flying. I should be able to get the hang of it to solo in a few hours. Received letter from Bobby the other day. He said he might go to Amarillo, Texas. He would have to come here because I am not allowed over a 5 mile radius and I must eat every meal at the school even when on liberty.
How is everything at home? As I said, there is very little chance of writing during the week so I will do all over the weekend. Has McWilliams written you? I sent him a letter to the return address on the letter he sent me and it was returned because it did not have the ship's name.
Love to all,
Jim
Monday, September 6, 2010
September 12, 1945 1200
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry and Mat,
I was suure glad to receive Mom's letter on the 7th, yesterday. I have been here a week and it has been my only connection to civilization.
My flying time is now sic hours. Sometime next week I should solo. The other day we were practicing spins. Oh are they hot stuff. You cut the throttle and slowly pull back the stick. The nose of the plane climbs up and up until you lose flying speed then the plane turns over ans starts straight down. The first spin you don't know where you are buty slowly you recover your senses and pull the plane out of straight and level flight. It's the pulling out that really gets you. It seems as if ten men are pulling you down into the seat. Your cheeks are pulled way into your head and your arms are like lead. I bet Jerry would get a kick out of it.
Last Monday we didn't do any flying because the instructors were free for Labor day. As in true Navy style, rather than let us have a few hours off, we had a "field day". No, we didn't go out and play games or the like. Instead all of the cadets had to clean the rooms until there was not a spot of dirt anywhere. Gene and I, much as we disliked it, scrubbed the walls, scrubbed the desks, scrubbed the floors until we thought we wore out our brushes. everything in sight was dusted, redusted and reredusted. The plastic Venetian blinds for our windows were a pain in the neck. Getting in those corners really knocked us out.We even took apart our beds to make sure we did not miss anything.
Then the big moment came. The officers of this station came around to make the inspection. The first place the senioe officer went was to the blinds. Gene and I were sure confident but low and behold the some of a gun found dust. I still say he had dust on his hands when he came in the rooms. Then what does he do but get down on his knees, crawl under one of our desks, sticks his had on the wood supporting the drawer and bawls us out for having dirt there. That was the last straw.
Some of the fellows claimed that he used his white hankerchief to find dust in their rooms.
Gene and I have decided that all the cleaning isn't worth it.Next inspection we aren't going to touch a thing and just sit around or sleep. Might as well, we will get demerits anyway.
Jack Burns, Bob Condon, Gene and I just spent a "big" sunday afternoon in Las Vegas. We went to see the big show in town "Bataan". There are only three movies in town but dadets are oonly permitted to go to two of them.
Coming back we stopped in for a soda at the local "confectionary shop". We were all trying to figure how four "healthy" young men like us ended up in a forgotten ( or yet discovered) country like New Mexico.
Off the main drag (street) you always see someone riding a horse. Jerry would get a great kick out of seein all the cowboys, bowlegged as ever, high boots, ten gallon hats and all. Coming back from the airport yesterday we watched cowboys trying to corral a horse, jsut like you see in the movies. Boy, this is some country.
Received a letter from Bobby yesterday. He seems to think that he will stay in Pocatello for the winter.
Thanks for Geof"s address. I will try and drop him a line in the next spare time.
Hint. If you could possibly scrape a few crackers together they would certainly be appreciated by everyone here. The storekeepers here won't sell us any food. Last night we practically had to beg a bottle of milk, for four of us, last night.
Will close now sending
Love to all
Jim
P.S. Please excuse Army Air corp writing paper but I found this in the drawer when I got here.
I was suure glad to receive Mom's letter on the 7th, yesterday. I have been here a week and it has been my only connection to civilization.
My flying time is now sic hours. Sometime next week I should solo. The other day we were practicing spins. Oh are they hot stuff. You cut the throttle and slowly pull back the stick. The nose of the plane climbs up and up until you lose flying speed then the plane turns over ans starts straight down. The first spin you don't know where you are buty slowly you recover your senses and pull the plane out of straight and level flight. It's the pulling out that really gets you. It seems as if ten men are pulling you down into the seat. Your cheeks are pulled way into your head and your arms are like lead. I bet Jerry would get a kick out of it.
Last Monday we didn't do any flying because the instructors were free for Labor day. As in true Navy style, rather than let us have a few hours off, we had a "field day". No, we didn't go out and play games or the like. Instead all of the cadets had to clean the rooms until there was not a spot of dirt anywhere. Gene and I, much as we disliked it, scrubbed the walls, scrubbed the desks, scrubbed the floors until we thought we wore out our brushes. everything in sight was dusted, redusted and reredusted. The plastic Venetian blinds for our windows were a pain in the neck. Getting in those corners really knocked us out.We even took apart our beds to make sure we did not miss anything.
Then the big moment came. The officers of this station came around to make the inspection. The first place the senioe officer went was to the blinds. Gene and I were sure confident but low and behold the some of a gun found dust. I still say he had dust on his hands when he came in the rooms. Then what does he do but get down on his knees, crawl under one of our desks, sticks his had on the wood supporting the drawer and bawls us out for having dirt there. That was the last straw.
Some of the fellows claimed that he used his white hankerchief to find dust in their rooms.
Gene and I have decided that all the cleaning isn't worth it.Next inspection we aren't going to touch a thing and just sit around or sleep. Might as well, we will get demerits anyway.
Jack Burns, Bob Condon, Gene and I just spent a "big" sunday afternoon in Las Vegas. We went to see the big show in town "Bataan". There are only three movies in town but dadets are oonly permitted to go to two of them.
Coming back we stopped in for a soda at the local "confectionary shop". We were all trying to figure how four "healthy" young men like us ended up in a forgotten ( or yet discovered) country like New Mexico.
Off the main drag (street) you always see someone riding a horse. Jerry would get a great kick out of seein all the cowboys, bowlegged as ever, high boots, ten gallon hats and all. Coming back from the airport yesterday we watched cowboys trying to corral a horse, jsut like you see in the movies. Boy, this is some country.
Received a letter from Bobby yesterday. He seems to think that he will stay in Pocatello for the winter.
Thanks for Geof"s address. I will try and drop him a line in the next spare time.
Hint. If you could possibly scrape a few crackers together they would certainly be appreciated by everyone here. The storekeepers here won't sell us any food. Last night we practically had to beg a bottle of milk, for four of us, last night.
Will close now sending
Love to all
Jim
P.S. Please excuse Army Air corp writing paper but I found this in the drawer when I got here.
September 3, 1945
Dear Folks,
Finally have a few minutes to write.
Arrived here in Las Vegas about noon yesterday.We walked up to the school and were assigned quarters. Boy are they hot stuff. Gene Cole and I were lucky enough to be put together. The room is swell and clean as a whistle. I see where I will have to do a little dusting. Plenty of space and a whole bureau to a man. That is something we never had up in Troy.
What meals we have here waitresses serve you and you can have all the food you want. That's one consolation.
Believe it of not I was up today hardly in the air ten minutes when he told me to take over. What a thrill. Boy- you can't beat flying. It's a great. When you go into those banks and slips, your stomach tightens up and your heart goes in your mouth.
I thought I was crampped for time when I was in R.R.I. Well this place makes Troy look sick. I have only a few minutes before show so that is how I can write this letter.
I think I had better close now. Will write again Sunday.
The Navy man,
Jim
PS Don't send my blues or whites. There's no place you can wear them.
Just came back from chow. The meal was swell only the cook forgot to take the Indian's arrow out of the Buffalo meat. Have a few more thins to clean up so I will close again.
Finally have a few minutes to write.
Arrived here in Las Vegas about noon yesterday.We walked up to the school and were assigned quarters. Boy are they hot stuff. Gene Cole and I were lucky enough to be put together. The room is swell and clean as a whistle. I see where I will have to do a little dusting. Plenty of space and a whole bureau to a man. That is something we never had up in Troy.
What meals we have here waitresses serve you and you can have all the food you want. That's one consolation.
Believe it of not I was up today hardly in the air ten minutes when he told me to take over. What a thrill. Boy- you can't beat flying. It's a great. When you go into those banks and slips, your stomach tightens up and your heart goes in your mouth.
I thought I was crampped for time when I was in R.R.I. Well this place makes Troy look sick. I have only a few minutes before show so that is how I can write this letter.
I think I had better close now. Will write again Sunday.
The Navy man,
Jim
PS Don't send my blues or whites. There's no place you can wear them.
Just came back from chow. The meal was swell only the cook forgot to take the Indian's arrow out of the Buffalo meat. Have a few more thins to clean up so I will close again.
September 2, 1943-Postcard
Stopping here at Raton New Mexico for breakfast. Should be in Las Vegas within three hrs. Boy is it cold in these parts.
Jim
Jim
Monday, August 16, 2010
Postcard from Kansas City- Sept 1, 1943
a/c J Chellis
U.S.N.T.S. CAAWTS
New Mexico Highland V
Las Vegas NM
Arrived here this morning at 0130. Slept like a top through the night. My gosh is it hot down in this part of the country. Train leaves at 1300 so as usual have a few minutes to see Kansas City. Next stop is Las Vegas which should be tomorrow morning sometime.
Jim
U.S.N.T.S. CAAWTS
New Mexico Highland V
Las Vegas NM
Arrived here this morning at 0130. Slept like a top through the night. My gosh is it hot down in this part of the country. Train leaves at 1300 so as usual have a few minutes to see Kansas City. Next stop is Las Vegas which should be tomorrow morning sometime.
Jim
Post card from St Louis, Mo
Dear Folks,
Just arrived in St Louis. We have until 2400 to see the town. So far the trip has been swell with plenty of rest and sleep and good food. Never realized how large this country was. I have seen enough corn today that could feed the world for years. Can't write legible on the train so will write a letter when I get to Las Vegas (NM). Should be there on Thursday morning.
Jim
Just arrived in St Louis. We have until 2400 to see the town. So far the trip has been swell with plenty of rest and sleep and good food. Never realized how large this country was. I have seen enough corn today that could feed the world for years. Can't write legible on the train so will write a letter when I get to Las Vegas (NM). Should be there on Thursday morning.
Jim
Postcard from Cleveland, Ohio- August 1943
Our ride has been swell so far. I slept wonderful all night and just finished a good breakfast. Our connection is two hours late so we have a little time to see the city. St Louis is to be our next stop. A welcome party will meet us at the station tonight and show us around. Kindness of the Naval Air Corp. Some racket eh?
Jim
Jim
 |
| Post card of Cleveland Municipal Airport "....the largest of its type in the world. Each day planes arrive and depart for all other parts of the United States" |
August 23, 1943
Dear Mom, Pop, Mary, Jerry, and Mat,
Here it is Monday morning, first period of class for my last week at R.P.I. Thank goodness for that.
Well the dance went off OK and this fair city of Troy was blessed with beautiful weather over the weekend.
This is really a riot going to school. We take tests on the work buy it doesn't go on our records. What's the sense in taking the tests. Last Saturday, the fellow wanted to had in the test papers before the class even started. No one gave a darm whether they got a 0 or 100%.
As far as we know we will still start our leave on Thursday sometime. The Navy loves to keep secrets until the last minute. The scuttlebutt going around is that we will receive our leave as soon as a house inspection is made Thursday morning.
One of the boys looked up the history of Las Vegas and here is a few interesting items. The field we are to fly from is on a high plateau 8000 feet above sear level. A few of the prominent gentlemen that have resided in the town are "Billy the Kid" " Hatchet-face Johnny" " Pan Cake Benny"and "Flap Jack Harry". As near as we can figure, the train ride will take about 3 1/2 days, six hours by stage coach and the last three miles on Indian trails. We are really going to wild country so you had better have Jerry oil up my shooing irons.
I had better close now. There is a shortage of writing paper among the fellos so we are only allowing each other one sheet per letter.
The Navy
Jim
Here it is Monday morning, first period of class for my last week at R.P.I. Thank goodness for that.
Well the dance went off OK and this fair city of Troy was blessed with beautiful weather over the weekend.
This is really a riot going to school. We take tests on the work buy it doesn't go on our records. What's the sense in taking the tests. Last Saturday, the fellow wanted to had in the test papers before the class even started. No one gave a darm whether they got a 0 or 100%.
As far as we know we will still start our leave on Thursday sometime. The Navy loves to keep secrets until the last minute. The scuttlebutt going around is that we will receive our leave as soon as a house inspection is made Thursday morning.
One of the boys looked up the history of Las Vegas and here is a few interesting items. The field we are to fly from is on a high plateau 8000 feet above sear level. A few of the prominent gentlemen that have resided in the town are "Billy the Kid" " Hatchet-face Johnny" " Pan Cake Benny"and "Flap Jack Harry". As near as we can figure, the train ride will take about 3 1/2 days, six hours by stage coach and the last three miles on Indian trails. We are really going to wild country so you had better have Jerry oil up my shooing irons.
I had better close now. There is a shortage of writing paper among the fellos so we are only allowing each other one sheet per letter.
The Navy
Jim
August 10, 1943
Dear Father, Mother, Aunt, Brother and Sister,
No doubt you are a little astonished to receive three letters from me in one week. Stanger things than that have happened, so don't worry.
I received a letter from my dear younges brother today.
Bobby Ludwig certainly had a tough break. I guess that just about kills his chances of going into the Air Corp for a little while. What hospital is he in?
So Frischman and Kelly were home. Too bad I didn't go home but gosh darn it that ride is horrible. As I wrote before I will not be coming home until I get my leave.
Everyone is counting the days until we move out. The date should be about the 27th, I hope .
This hold period is a real racket. No homework at all and the work in school is all review. Abouth the only work I have is making up a recognition notebook. Cutting plane pictues out of magazines and the like.
We just had our first fire drill in the house a few minutes ago. Was that comical. Half of the fellows had pajamas on. What a sight seeing all the fellows trying to pull thie pants on. Everything turned out O.K.
Believe it or not I received a letter from Al Walsh yesterday. He expects to be a proud father in October. From his letter, the Navy seems to be keeping him busy. The Waves have taken over most of the jobs down there so he expects to be moved soon. Do you know we still haven't given him that mirror as a wedding present? Someday, we will.
I will close now dear folks
Your loving Navy man
Jim
P.S. Please excuse the writing. I am scribbling on a magazine balance on my knee.
No doubt you are a little astonished to receive three letters from me in one week. Stanger things than that have happened, so don't worry.
I received a letter from my dear younges brother today.
Bobby Ludwig certainly had a tough break. I guess that just about kills his chances of going into the Air Corp for a little while. What hospital is he in?
So Frischman and Kelly were home. Too bad I didn't go home but gosh darn it that ride is horrible. As I wrote before I will not be coming home until I get my leave.
Everyone is counting the days until we move out. The date should be about the 27th, I hope .
This hold period is a real racket. No homework at all and the work in school is all review. Abouth the only work I have is making up a recognition notebook. Cutting plane pictues out of magazines and the like.
We just had our first fire drill in the house a few minutes ago. Was that comical. Half of the fellows had pajamas on. What a sight seeing all the fellows trying to pull thie pants on. Everything turned out O.K.
Believe it or not I received a letter from Al Walsh yesterday. He expects to be a proud father in October. From his letter, the Navy seems to be keeping him busy. The Waves have taken over most of the jobs down there so he expects to be moved soon. Do you know we still haven't given him that mirror as a wedding present? Someday, we will.
I will close now dear folks
Your loving Navy man
Jim
P.S. Please excuse the writing. I am scribbling on a magazine balance on my knee.
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