Aug-7-1943

U.S.S. Rush C.G.

My Darling,

            Well it’s the same old story - no mail as yet. There’s something wrong someplace, surely they can find a way to get our mail up here. Going on day after day and not hearing from you is like putting on some deserted island and not allowing anybody to see you. I really miss your letters honey, they are something Im always looking forward of.

            Just before I started this letter I broke out all your old letters and read them all. It made me feel like I just received them and made me feel you were right here. Honey Im going to be the happiest man alive the day when I can hold you in my arms again. I wonder if you miss me as much as I have missed you. I wish you would say it and really mean it with all your heart. Ill know how much you missed me as soon as I hit Cleveland and you better prepare yourself for some strenuous time, maybe you’ll have to take another vacation because you won’t feel like going back to work. Who wants to work when there will be so little time for us to enjoy ourselves.

            Here summer is over and I don’t ever know where you had a good time, or of you took your vacation yet or even what you did? But in my mind I know you had some swell times and with Frank and Inez at Fairport, they sort of filled in the bill. Right? If you didn’t have a good time I would be pretty depressed.

            Pause for five minutes. A group of the boys are together and are harmonizing a few songs. They can really put out and it sounds swell. They are now getting some instruments together. Boy what a racket we’ll soon have. At least it will put the boys at ease after work is through.

            Speaking of work, the other day I seem to get off on the wrong foot and it ended up when I had to do some extra duty. All day yesterday I had to chip rust off of the anchor chain. I didn’t realize how soft my hands got because before the day was over I had inherited four blisters. My fingers and are still sore from swinging that chipping hammer. The worst part of it is that I’m to do that work till the communication officer feels that I have paid the penalty. I still stand my radio watches but chip when I’m off. I’m not use to that kind of work now, I did all that about three years ago. This penalty has learned me something on this ship. From now on they have to order me to go ahead and do something. I tried to go ahead and do things without being pushed but it seems its not appreciated here so I’ve decided to let things go as they are. Let the other guys to the worrying from now on.

            It seems like the longer I stay here, the more dissatisfied I’m getting. At one time time my ambition was radio but now as days go along that ambition is fading away. I don’t know whats causing it to go, maybe its only because I’m on this parge and being stationed down here. Maybe I’ll snap out of it and maybe I wont but time will soon tell.

            We had another soft ball game today and – you guessed it – we lost. It was a good game but just wasn’t in shape so we lost by one run. Score was 7-6. That was the second game we played here. These were the first games we played since our last game about four months ago. Just can’t play a game about 3-4 months apart and expect to be in shape. Even if we do lose its lost recreation for us.

            Well Darling its nearly midnight and I soon go off watch so I’ll be closing. Hope this letter finds you still in the best of health and happiness. Give my best regards to Mom. Also to Frank & Inez when you go over. Have you seen Needhim lately, I still haven’t heard from him, maybe he lost my address. Say hello if you see him.

Goodnight Sweetheart

Loads of Love

As always

Paul

Mr. Paul Kolaida (220-205) Rm 2/c

U.S.S. Rush C.G.

c/o Fleet Post office

New York – N.Y.