Letters of Love, War and Jazz (eBook)

CHAPTER ONE:
Becoming a Navy Ensign

From Indianapolis to San Francisco

(via Camp Peary, Virginia, Crane Depot, Indiana,
and Cambridge, Massachusetts)

June 15, 1944—April 12, 1945

Part 1—Indianapolis to Crane Depot:

June 15, 1944—July 26, 1944

•••

Frank to Bee

June 15, 1944

I’ve been sworn in now, but we’re staying in Indianapolis until 3:30 p.m. tomorrow. We’re pretty sure of going to Great Lakes, but it’s not absolutely positive, I guess.

Staying at the Y; took a shower after waiting in lines for 2 and a half hours to be sworn in—feel much better now. Going to eat breakfast tomorrow at Wheeler’s—decided I wouldn’t have many more chances to eat what and where I choose.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 18, 1944

Well, as I told you, our original orders were for Great Lakes Naval Base north of Chicago, but 70 of us got shipped here [to Camp Peary, Virginia]5 from Indianapolis instead. Now we’re here among a bunch of hillbillies from all around the South—Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, etc. Left Indy Friday night around 7—fast trip to Cincy, slow ride the rest of the way through West Virginia. Arrived here about 3:30 p.m. yesterday—passed the time on the trip down playing poker, blackjack and shooting craps with a few guys—probably lost a couple dollars. The route we took must have been about the same one we took down this way on our honeymoon.

Should get our first check of around 3 or 4 dollars in a week or two. Got our heads shaved today —you’d get a big laugh. 107 degrees in the sun today!

•••

Frank to Bee

June 20, 1944

Wore our boots for the first time yesterday—looks like we’ll be here for 7 weeks, which is exactly 49 days too long! We “hit the deck” at 5:30 every morning, clean up the barracks and get chow at 7. Back to the barracks for instruction until 12, eat at 12:30, then more training until 4. Then clean up, change clothes, do our wash and eat again at 6. Evening free, bed at 9:30. I was on barracks watch from 8 a.m. til noon—not a bad watch.

There are about 80,000 men here—we were told not to gripe about camp conditions to our families—in other words, keep up civilian morale! It is a hell of a place, however, and nothing said about it could make it good. But I’m not griping—you know me—I’ll get along ok; hasn’t been bad so far.

Had lousy food tonight. Played a game of chess and got beat—guess I’m out of practice. Seems like we’ve been here 2 weeks, not 3 days, but I’m getting the work down and adjusting to procedures. The big thing, just as I expected, is missing you, sweet.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 21, 1944

We’ll probably be getting our shots next week—tetanus, typhoid, smallpox and a couple others. Richmond paper says German prisoners were going to be put here, but the Red Cross objected. [Well-known journalist and commentator Walter] Winchell says Germany has concentration camps and we have Camp Peary—that’s the scuttlebutt here!

Our first 2 days here were terrifically hot—Monday was Washington, DC’s hottest day since 1871, but it’s rained and cooled off since—double blanket last night and jacket tonight. I’m bunking (double bunks) with a fellow from Bedford just out of high school and pal around with him and a young fellow from Chattanooga. Majority of fellows are under 20; too many of them are just too ignorant to make much of a buddy for me. I beat 4 fellows at ping pong tonight; all I played—pretty good!

•••

Frank to Bee

June 22, 1944

Our company had KP duty today—my job was to transfer fried chicken from one pan to another and set it aside; sure was a strain on my mind!

We got our clothing and supplies:

• 2 work uniforms
• 4 white uniforms
• 2 pair blue trousers
• 2 undress jumpers; 1 dress jumper
• Mattress, 2 mattress covers
• Pillow and cover
• Sweater
• Gloves
• Swimming trunks
• 4 suits of underwear
• 2 pair of shoes, one white, one oxford
• 1 pair overshoes
• 12 handkerchiefs
• 1 towel
• 7 pair socks
• 1 stocking cap
• 1 heavy wool pea-jacket
• 4 hats, three white, one blue
• White and black belt
• Misc—shoe and clothes brushes,
  toothpaste/brush, needle/thread, soap

All of that stuff goes into a bag 12 inches in diameter and 3 feet high—can you do it? We have to roll and tie our clothes—supposed to automatically press them but so far it just pressed wrinkles in mine. Takes practice, I s’pose!

Think I’ll got to the beer hall and garden tonight—supposed to be a USO show.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 23, 1944

The USO show last night was a bunch of hillbillies playing guitars—what a mess, but we had to stay until it was over. Tonite I went to the beer garden and had 3 glasses of 3.2 beer—guess this is about the only camp in the country where “boots” can get beer at all. The Chief just passed by —I asked if I could go to Indiana over the weekend and he just laughed.

Too many mosquitos—have to go inside to finish this; got lots of bites.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 24, 1944

Hot and windy today—big clouds of dust too thick to see through 60 feet high. Must be like the dust bowl. I hear there are some bowling alleys near here so I may try to find them and roll a couple lines.

Think I’ll make a bid next week to get a petty officer rating in case I don’t get my commission. Guess I’ll go do my wash—it’s done by hand, you know. A washing machine salesman would make a million dollars here!

•••

Frank to Bee

June 25, 1944

Waited until after mail call to write, but still haven’t gotten any of your letters—maybe tomorrow. One of the Gary boys got a letter from his wife, the 7th one she wrote, but still hasn’t received the first 6—what a mess!

Played more ping pong last night after going to the beer garden—won about 7 games. 4 of us were together and bought pretzels, cheese crackers and pickled herring to eat with our beer. Sure tasted good.

Tonight I have guard duty from midnight to 4 a.m. in the boiler room, so I won’t get much sleep, as we have to be up by 5:30!

•••

Frank to Bee

June 26, 1944

Sure enough—I got your long letter this morning and your next one this afternoon. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed them both!6

Several fellows took the swimming test and now I wish I had—just jump in from about 4 feet above the water and swim about 50 yards. After that we got our 8 shots! Then we went to an indoctrination lecture—purely propaganda. I almost slept through it because I didn’t get much sleep last night, what with my midnight to 4 a.m. watch.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 27, 1944

Received 4 letters from you today, including the pictures—sure made me happy!

All worn out tonight—had to take aptitude tests, 3 in the morning and 3 this afternoon—too much for one day.

You asked about phone calls—that’s out. The camp won’t receive calls and it’s practically impossible to call out except for emergencies.

We had corn on the cob and ice cream and cake at lunch and stuffed peppers and French fries for dinner.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 28, 1944

What a busy day! Our Chief told us we’re not keeping the barracks and head clean enough—gotta do better.

Had strength tests today to test our physical endurance—included push-ups and chinning on a bar. About 20 of the guys got weak and nauseated; I felt tired but that’s all. Then had a lecture on military courtesy and a movie on saluting and drilling. Still hotter than hell here—sweated through my watch strap, so have to wash more clothes tonight.

•••

Frank to Bee

June 29, 1944

Lectures, drills and exercises today—tough ones, too. And 23 days from now, I have to spend a week cleaning toilets and urinals—I know I’ll enjoy that!

•••

Frank to Bee

July 2, 1944

I was assigned duty at the beer garden last night, along with 2 other fellows, and our job was to wash beer glasses. And boy did we wash glasses—about 7000 in 2 hours, which was about 1000 more than the other crew, so we took pride in our achievement! We had a good time AND were paid 50 cents for it, too! After we were done, we ate and drank until about 2230.

You know how much I love you, dearest, and I know I’ll miss you terribly on the 4th. I’ll not be happy till you’re in my arms again—that’s what I’m living for.

•••

Frank to Bee

July 3, 1944

Received your packages today, plus the letters you wrote Friday and Saturday, plus the brown envelope (I bet I know), plus cards from Bud and Adele;7 plus got 2 letters from you and 2 from Mom yesterday—quite a haul!

Was sure glad to get the cigarettes and matches—matches are scarce here. Russ,...