Thursday 4 P.M.
21 Feb. 46
My dear Fran:
Just arrived in Oakland,
California awaiting train
departure at 6:30 P.M. I’m in the U.S.O. Lounge. Just came over on the
ferry boat from Frisco and the sea gulls following the boat shit on me twice.
We are due to arrive in Seattle
some time on the 23rd. I didn’t write yesterday, Cookies’
brother in law hit Hamilton, Florida yesterday afternoon he just came from L.A.
enroute to Seattle returning from furlough so he
Cookie and myself went into San Rafael and had supper and did a little
drinking. He’s in the Army but he travels back and forth on the Marine Falcon
as a baker. He said it’s a nice ship, type C4, its
bigger than a Liberty Ship. Yesterday afternoon I spent packing and I went to
the P.X. and bought a cartoon of cigarettes, another writing pad, envelopes,
hair tonic, and two new T shirts, very nice only .45¢ I’d have
bought more and sent them home if I had been flush. You know when I’m broke
I’ll at least have cigarettes and writing material I still have about six or
eight stamps. I haven’t received any mail in two days from my honey but I guess
it’s the post office and not you. Honey about once a week from now on when you
write tell me in your letters you need money for something or other and that
way if I’m making some money on the side I can go to the Red Cross with your letter
and show them you need money and they will see that I can send out a money
order. I’m not going to pull any thing crooked but I’m going to make all the
money possible and if it isn’t at home and in American money it won’t do me a
[edited for content] bit of good. They say the Japs
will buy any [edited for content] thing you can get your hands on so if I have
it, I’ll sell it. Don’t mention a small amount, in other words say the bank
note or something is due and you need $100. So if I have it I’ll
send it, if I should only have $ 20. I’ll say that will help a
little and then send that, catch on? Cookie and I tried all over to get 127 film for his camera so we could take some pictures but we
can’t find any. This picture enclosed is the one taken in the day room that I
told you so much about. According to our orders we are suppose to stay in a
hotel in Seattle.
I hope we do, it will be more convenient than staying in barracks. I’ll bet
they are certainly glad to get rid of us at Hamilton, Florida.
To think when we got there we were just going to be there three or four days
and here it is over four weeks. I wouldn’t be a [edited for content] bit
surprised if we stay in Seattle
longer than the 26th. I hope I get your package when I hit Seattle but maybe I won’t see it until I get to Tokyo. Well honey I think
I’ll close for today and write again tomorrow. Remember one thing honey I love
you more than any thing in the world and always will so be a good girl and I’ll
be a good boy, promise. Give my regards to your folks and our friends. Did Joy
(Mrs. C) write to you yet?
With all my love,
Your
honey.
P.S.
When you
ask me for money, put it at the start of the letter then I won’t have to show
them my whole letter.
I miss you
dear, if you sent a couple more pictures that would be nice, how about it?