November 2010

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.

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

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

December 5, 1943 - Sunday

Dear Mom, Pop, Jerry, Mary and Mat,
   They have run out of the other stationary usptairs ( 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

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