Saturday Nite

Ensenada Honda

Dear Jane,

Have been here since last Sunday.  One of the boys went to San Juan Wednesday, so I received your letter on the 10^th. One of the boys who went back today will probably bring back more mail Monday; undoubtedly a letter from Lyla or Shirley is waiting there.  Too bad I can’t have ‘em tonight with nothing to do tomorrow except wait for Monday.  A good chance to write. Some of the boys take the liberty bus to the only town as far as I know of- nearly.  Fajardo, it’s called.  So far I haven’t tried it.  Imagine it’s about the size of Higganum, Connecticut- a good place to live at, but too “dead” to go to on a night out.

            We brought three truckloads of equipment here last Sunday and it has been opened and placed on the shelves of a small storeroom shack on the waterfront.  This is my hideaway and for once I’m stuck with the job a storekeeper’s supposed to have.  I arranged the stuff on the shelves am taking inventory and will issue.  It wouldn’t be so bad were it not for the fact that my boss proved to be a liar that morning he came in with the rash promise of a first class rating once we get started.  Unfortunately, since this is a construction camp men who look as if they came up the hard way are definitely in favor; office stooges scorned. Then four of our men were jumped a sate this week; three of us overlooked.  His latest promise is second-class early next year. On the basis of the mispronunciation of fact alone would like to get out of the unit, but seem cornered at present.  Since the Bluejacket’s manual says you must not fail in keeping a respectful bearing toward a superior officer you can’t talk back to an “old hard”.  The only way I could think of to get out of the unit was to ask for a chance to take a test for yeoman 3^rd class on the basis of a let better aptitude there, No yeoman are assigned to this unit; it would require a transfer.  They’ll stall me somehow.  The only advantage in taking yeoman third class and losing all there months in another rate would be to lose an antagonistic; disillusioned attitude. Everything “caved in” and, double-crossed once, why not twice?  The stripe doesn’t mean a damn, nor the money- it’s the principle of the thing.

            I can’t describe the beauty of this place while riding down the road mornings to show. Green hills about a gigantic construction camps; covered wagon trucks everywhere and little huts; men in sun hats; “gushies” galore.  We now have twenty “gushies” working for us, so they pick up scrap now and sort it out for stowing into the different ships. That helps. Feel awfully sorry for them- they only get 20 cents an hour which is one of those unjust circumstances someday to be corrected.  Puerto Rico wants its independence badly but since its labor supply is invalid like an arrange Negro workers in the U.S. (discriminated against although his output equals the white man’s) self-suffering is as yet impossible…

            So Geo’s Grand “mammy” failed at last. Is Grandpop still going?

            Thought-----(Kial?) was going over “years ago”.  He must be getting “fed up” waiting.  Georgia- it don’t sound so good. There are so many more exciting states to wait in, further north- is you, us wait. Pa.-D.C.-N.Y-Md.

            So Judy, like Uncle Cholly, is a bit on the crabby side these days. It’s only the cause that varies; one craves Louie’s toothsome gain, no doubt; one, independence.

            So thrilled to hear Lizze Thomson is unattached; hunt futile. For I’ll be back some day- I’ll be back! And, you know, ‘I’d like to pick ‘er up and kiss ‘er this minute”.

How “Wes” must date on “Tombstone Gulching!”

            How does it feel to be “back home?”

            Well, that dispenses with your comments. And since work, eat, and sleep is all that’s here, what to talk about but work, eat, and sleep. Perhaps the memory of that steak dinner last Saturday in San Juan as a temporary farewell treat, or the “boch” now available by merely walking downstairs to partially compensate for the isolation, possibly from San Juan.

            Oh, yes, the future.  After 18 months in the Caribbean you can apply for a transfer. After a year you can apply for a 20 day leave to the states. The German collapse may dispense with the necessity of observing the former item; the latter, I “dunno”. For they count on using the Navy and Air corps for Japan; freeing some of the Army men. At all events would like to be one of the lucky ones getting a plane ride to Miami. Then riding (train) past Norfolk (as fast as humanly possible) to D.C to Philly to N.Y., to N. Y. to Philly to D.C. (Merry-go-round lover).

            Oh, yes. Since I have no time for shopping this year, need I give Christmas Recognition? If so, what type of money order would you prefer?  A vital question requires a thoughtful answer.

Received pipe cleaner- pipe still in San Juan.

Anything I missed?

                                                                                                Chase

NOGLE: Nothing Noo?

Chase is updating Jane on his status in his position and around in the community.