December 17, 1943: “Seven more days of shopping until Xmas”
See/read a letter written Dec. 17, 1943 from a sailor in the Pacific.
Corwin Jones, Pete Jones, Peter Jones, Margaret E. Jones, Marble Minnesota, WWII in the Pacific, Letter from the Pacific, US Navy sailor letter, Carolyn Porter
23720
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-23720,single-format-standard,stockholm-core-2.4.1,select-theme-ver-9.8,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode_menu_,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.1,vc_responsive
December 17, 2018 In Handwriting, Minnesota, World War II

December 17, 1943: “Seven more days of shopping until Xmas”

Four page handwritten letter, written December 17, 1943

Friday, December 17, 1943

Dear Maggie, 

There is still very little to write about and we’re all getting a little bit tired of this riding but guess we’ll make out all right. I won’t be able to mail this for some time yet but am writing anyway. Will send you a number of letters in one envelope as I did the last letter I sent. I’m going to try to send a wire soon so stand by. 

We spend a lot of time sitting around playing cards when off duty. Every once in a while we try to imagine the ship is just pulling into L.A. or Frisco, or just rounding the Statue of Liberty, and how we’ll buy some civilian clothes and catch the first plane home, the war being over and this is our trip back. This trip is different but the U.S.A. is the place we all want to be. What a glorious day that will be — I wonder if anybody will recognize me when I get back — it’s going to seem mighty funny being a civilian again and different too because I’ll have a family to look after and keep me company. 

It sorta scares me sometimes when I think that if I don’t get a good job when I get back, you “guys” will be poor — I’ve got to save some money somehow. The more I think about it the more I think I’ll send more & more of my money home. As a captain I’ll receive $352.00 per. My insurance and bands[?] came to $26.15 — if I send you $250.00 I’ll still have $78.85 left for myself. Besides you’ll need a lot of dough soon and what you don’t need you could plunk away in a bank. That’s the only way I can see that we can save anything — I’ll spend it if I have it. What do you think of the deal? There’s another Lt. and myself that are both expecting our captaincy at our destination — should be waiting. Keep your fingers crossed. 

I just took time out to buy some cigarettes, candy & peanuts. They have it about once a week in the officer’s mess hall. I’ve never eaten so much candy in my life before — sorta adore the stuff. I can understand now how it is a good morale builder and so hard to get in the states.

Seven more days of shopping until Xmas — hurry, hurry! Great fun and a lot of work — I’ve finished mine ha ha! and we’ll do some more later. So stand by again. 

How are you getting along? Please write and tell me everything as your mail is not censored so no one will know but you and I. 

I ran across a person that worked with you aboard the other day. I can’t say who it was yet, will be later. Was that person surprised that I was the guy you married. Small world, isn’t it?

Well must close for now — will write more later. Be a good gal and take care of little Pete. 

Yours,
Corwin


Tuesday, December 21, 1943

Dear Maggie, 

Just another line or two to fill in the letter before I mail it — am still at sea and going strong. Xmas is only a few days off. We’re planning quite a dinner and celebration aboard so the day won’t be entirely a flop and all I hope is that they don’t get stingy with the chicken or turkey, what ever it is that day. 

I’ll be thinking of you and little Pete all day and wishing I were there. I hope you have a very nice Xmas, and eat lots — every other mouthful for me. Boy will you be stuffed!

Must close this and get it in the mail. I’m looking forward to those letters, write often. 

Yours,
Corwin