April 1, 1943

Dear Mom and Dad,

Received both your letters while I was in the hospital and was so happy to hear from you. I was dismissed Monday afternoon and put on light duty for 24 hours. I sure was weak after living on liquids for 4 days.

April 2, 1943

Hello again,

It is now 5:30 a.m. and I have just reported as mate of Fifth Deck Starboard. My duty is from 5:30 to 7:00 and 12:30 to 6:30. I’m to see that order is maintained and that the regulations are carried out on this deck. Now don’t laugh, but one of the very important duties of a mate is to clean the heads (toilets to you) in all the apartments, there are five on this floor. One thing I’m glad of is that there are no officers quartered up here, or it would be my duty to clean their apartment. My alternate watch must swab the deck and ladders (steps) I’m so glad I’m on watch today as I was scared I would get it over the weekend when I have liberty. I called Ruth Wed. night but she wasn’t home, so I spoke to Ralph for a while and then called Virginia. They are planning to come up for my liberty Sunday and they are bringing Kay Furey with them. Gee I’m so tickled to think of seeing them again. I have 8 hours Saturday, 8 Sunday. Virginia said that Ruth had written a letter to the O.D. in my building asking if I could get the whole weekend off to spend at her home. I do wish she hadn’t done that as the officers will think it was my idea. I don’t expect a lot of special privileges and I don’t intend to ask for them. Once before Ruth wrote me and asked for the name of my commanding officer but I didn’t give it to her, in fact I ignored her question completely. I didn’t think she would go so far as to write to them without my permission. But don’t you start writing anything to Ruth about this now as that will only start one of those crazy family letter-go-rounds again. I’ll handle it in my own way. Sigrid and I have planned to go to Radio City on Saturday. She is the roommate I like so well. She was disappointed that her cousin couldn’t come up from Wash. to see her. He was here once before and called her and came here to the building to see her but they would not permit it as we are not allowed visitors. The Navy does not care who the people are or where they came from. Another of my roommates had a sister come from Illinois or some western state on a buying trip and she was not permitted to see her until the girl got the measles and was taken to the hospital, then they left her sister see her for a very short while.

1350

Received a letter from Dad again and also from Judy. Judy has been sworn into the Waves and expects to arrive at Hunter College the last part of April. I’m truly sorry that we won’t be here then. I expect we will be on our way a week from Wednesday, still don’t know where.

Now I’ll make an attempt to answer your letters. Yes Dad, I did see the article in “Life” about the Waves. We were very interested to see how differently things are seen in other training schools. It seems they have a lot more privileges than Hunter, but I suppose “boot camp” is always more severe. Hunter College is quite attractive. There are 4 buildings that we have classes in and what gets all of us we can’t cross the campus to another building but must march outside the gate and enter the gate nearest the building we have a class in. This is a big help in the rain especially as you can see. We have had some pretty bad rain storms lately and we certainly feel awful to get out hats all wet. They are changing the style of the Havelock, so until they issue them we walk out in all the rain. Our hats are beginning to look pretty droopy. We wear rubbers so I will have to buy some. I’ve bought a new pair of regulation shoes at Saks Fifth Avenue. They were $12.95. The big department stores take turns coming to the station and selling their wares. Saks and Macys are here now. Just finished cleaning the heads. Ay! What a job! I can’t truthfully say I have been homesick because I’m really enjoying all the good companionship here. We are never really alone. If my roommates are in the smoking room I pick up whatever I’m doing and go in some of the other girls’ apartments where there is something doing. We have hair washing parties, name tag sewing parties, shoe polishing fests and so forth. I miss not hearing music though as I haven’t heard a radio since I’ve been here. We sing a lot though to make up for that.

As far as requesting Calif. is concerned I doubt if there is much choice in the matter from what the girls say who have finished training school.

I have another typhoid shot Monday when I come out of the hospital.

Monday 5, 1943

Just came back from having another typhoid. I’ll try to tell you a bit about the wonderful weekend. Ruth, Virginia, and Kay came out to the apt. We ate lunch at the Jaft Hotel grill, then went to see a how primarily for the stage show, we didn’t stay for the whole picture. Then we ate some more and it was time for me to take the train back. The girls are looking swell especially Ruth, she doesn’t seem to age at all. We talked so much I’m quite hoarse today. It was a grand day.

Saturday morning we had a review and stood out in a bitter cold wind for 1 ½ hours waiting for the officers to show up. We went to St. Patrick’s Church and ate two big meals. We thoroughly enjoyed eating from table clothes and having napkins. I’ll write more later. These are busy days so don’t mind if you don’t hear from me.

Love L.