1946 June

 "1 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

I meant to write to you last night but seeing that today is Sunday I postponed my writing until now. I received a letter from you yesterday plus one from my mother. All in all things are pretty much the same out here, slow but steady. Our resident admiral has gone home now and we now have a Captain as our Commander of Operations in Okinawa. I guess we are getting less important out here all the time. What gripes me and the rest of the guys is the fact that these big shots come out for about six months, live like kings while they are here and then go back home and get two or three medals for being out of the states for such a long period of time. The poor enlisted man has to stay out for eighteen and when he goes back is hit with everything except a battleship and after a leave will probably go out again. There isn't any justice whatsoever.

From what we read out here in the papers and magazines Eisenhower is overhauling the army something fierce and it may come about in the Navy also. I guess I must be in the mood for griping as I've had a good start.  Today being Sunday we usually sleep in till about 10 o'clock  then go to Mass at 10:30. Well this morning I was awake at the crack of dawn by a radio that someone forgot to turn off last night. As if that wasn't enough it spoiled a good dream that I was having about us. I don't see you at all and when I pick you out in a dream a lousy radio has to commence blaring to spoil it all. I finally got up at 9:30 only to find that the water had been shut off as there was a break in the main water line. I really blew my top then as I needed a shave and a shower to wake me up. I was too lazy last night to do it all. I gave up finally, and went to church as is. 

You can tell the terrific manpower shortage when you go to church as there are very few around. Since we haven't a chaplain in our outfit we go to the Receiving Station where they send all the discharges stateside. They have so few men in each draft going home that the ship has to wait about 10 days to pick up enough men to make the trip home worthwhile. To top off my gripes we had stew for dinner. That was the very first time, since I have been in the Navy that we have had stew for dinner, so help me. Now everything is complete, it's raining out. I guess this must be one of my real bad days.

I had better quit griping are you may wind up in tears. I guess I had better begin answering your letter. It seems to me that we are always commenting on the subject of impulses and developments either from one view point or the other. I wonder who and what started it at all? I'm afraid that I have forgotten who when and where. But since we are on the subject we might as well continue for the present. In one of your letters you make the statement "sometimes I wish we hadn't been quite so successful in overcoming impulses." Ellen you surprise me no fooling, but as you say it is just as well that we did. As for those parking dates that lasted so long without a semblance of an impulse, well to be truthful they were there but they just didn't come to life that's all. It's only human to be like that with impulses or passions or whatever they are but I guess we must have been super human to have kept them hidden as long as we did. As for the few situations we had when I was home last I'm glad they ended when they did because if they hadn't only God knows what the results would have been. We'll save them all until we get married and then will have no worries over results the day boys or girls if you know what I mean, and I know you do.

As for that day at Revere I guess we both missed out so that's that, for the time being. As far as bashfulness is concerned I guess we'll have to get over that in a hurry. As you know I usually sleep in the raw and I'm used to it so I guess you will too. What am I saying? As for our honeymoon I really don't know as yet where we will spend it, honest. I hope the housing situation is cleared up by then so we won't have any worries. As for my leave when I get home it will be 30 days plus travel time amounting to 10 days. As to where I'll go after it's up I don't know nor have I the faintest idea. Things are so messed of the world over and in the Navy also that no one knows the score at all. Just keep praying for the best honey as that's all that we can do.

Well honey, I'll close out now and will write again tomorrow. Keep your chin up. All my love 

Always 

John."

"4 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

I received two letters from you today and as usual I am very very happy indeed. One you wrote while at work the other was written Sunday night. As for the switchboard deal you have during lunch hour, I am now being checked out on it out here. Our telephone exchange, the ones who usually handle the rig have been decommissioned so therefore when we go on watch we will be the 'number pleez' boys. If we get any more duties out here we'll need another set of hands to handle it. I'm glad that you are at last having a good time at the dances and I sincerely hope that you are being rushed by the stag line. Now don't get me wrong I'm not trying to get rid of you or anything like that it's just that when I know you're being rushed by others my desire to get home and marry you get stronger and stronger. After all I don't want a girl that winds up a wallflower at all the dances, and after a while winds up brooding with a result that her face is a prune like spectacle. Be young and happy while you can honey because you're old for an awful long time. Just figure that I'm having a good time, which I am not, and you have one in return. I love you with all my heart and my one hope is that we will always be happy you especially so since we're not together why be sad. As for Rita, O'Hara checking up on you never worry about her. If anything happens that I should know, good or otherwise I guess your man enough to tell me. As I said before honey, have a good time as often as you can, whenever you can, and please have no regrets over my not having the same. I'll make a good time somehow so please don't worry or think about me not enjoying myself. If I didn't have a good time once in a while I'm afraid that I'd be nuts just about now. As for good times together, we'll have those when I get home and plenty of them. I'm glad that the spring is so nice back home and I certainly miss it. About those telephone calls to Okinawa I don't think it's possible unless you can talk loud enough that I can hear you from Shanghai or Tokio. Those two points are the only ones open so far as I am concerned. This is the forgotten land out here on Okinawa.

I was just reading about Madeline and her Marine pal, if that's what you want to call him. What in the hell is she so happy about escorting a married man around? Maybe she's different than a lot of girls and maybe she ain't but someday she'll wind up in a situation that will prove very embarrassing to her. He has no worries as he's married and she knows it. She must have rocks for brains, that's about all I can figure. I guess you must be right about that female shortage at Hibernian when Rita O'Hara can nab a guy. Oh well she really isn't the worst in the world although at times I think so. Let's forget her, huh.

As for me, forgetting you, Puleese! Take it easy, hon. I guess you must be the only one that thinks like that as I don't. As my picture shows I am getting slightly thinner, you see I'm on a diet or some thing. I now have the strength to push myself away from the table when I eat my meals and I haven't had a beer now in almost 10 days. My last splurge was a week ago last Saturday and I've come to the conclusion that I must cut down in order to test my willpower or some thing. I'll save up till I get home and then we'll both be sousies.

I'm going to draw a picture of one of the mailman if I can get an 'inspiration.' Your 'boy' is liable to tear it up though if I make the lightness to close.

I hope I get those papers real soon as I'm dying to read some Boston papers and find out how they're thinking back there. Don't worry too much about the difficulty I have in opening those papers as I haven't any place to go and just to read them is worth the effort a hundred times. Well honey I've got to buzz off now to chow, take a shower, pressed some clothes, take in the movies and hit the sack. Speaking of movies, I saw 'spellbound' last night. It was really good but these psychiatrists give me a pain where it hurts. I read a statement by a Catholic priest that Confession is better than all the psychics they have and I agree with him wholeheartedly. Another good show to see is 'Whistle stop' with Geo. Raft. It's really good. I'm waiting to see 'The Postman Rings Twice' and will pass on my views on that as soon as I see it. I'll close for now sure. I love you and miss you an awful lot.

All my love to you.

Always.

John.

PS By the way I'm reading 'Gazing into my 8' Ball' by Earl Wilson – again. It's really a goodie. 

PPS Please send me some plain envelopes as soon as you can as I can put my art on the these email envelopes that I have."

Spellbound is a 1945 Alfred Hitchcock film about a psychiatrist protecting the identity of an amnesia patient who is accused of murder while attempting to recover his memory.

Victor McLaglen from The Quiet Man is also in 1946's Whistle Stop with Ava Gardner and George Raft. 

The Postman Always Rings Twice was a 1946 film.

"6 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen, 

Hello again, and how are you? I just finished eating supper and figured that I should write to you now instead of later on tonight. I had the watch last night and contemplated writing to you then but I was as busy as paper hanger with fleas. Besides standing the watch and such we are operating the switchboard for our exchange. Never a dull moment all night long. Now I can see what you are up against when you operate a busy switchboard at work. How in the name of all that that's holy do the telephone operators at Tel & Tel do it? I guess that type of work would just about drive me to ruination in no time at all. I'm glad I only get the job about once a week so maybe my ruination will be a very slow process. I hope so anyway. Well honey everything is going along ok out here for the time being but our position on the rock is quite precarious if all the rumors that are floating around have any semblance of truth. From the viewpoint of the rumor mongers all Navy personel will be off Okinawa around September. It could be true as no replacements are coming out and the guys that came out here on the invasion force are going home next month. I guess my batch was the last to hit here so by the time I get to go home everyone else will have gone home. I'm over the hump now as far as my time is concerned so all I have to do now is wait and wait. From our news sheets out here things still don't look good back in the states. How are you people surviving at all? The Merchant Marine is going on strike now with baseball players following suit in the near future. I only hope it's cleared up by the time I get home. 

Pay day is drawing near soon so at least I have on pleasant moment to look forward to. By the way honey how are we making out as far as our finances are concerned? Please give me the dope as I'd like to figure out how profitable this trip west has been along the monetary line. Will you do that for me honey?

We are still sweating out the arrival of a carrier to pick up our aircraft. It was due this week but we still have had no report on it as yet. Everything is so confused these days no body knows whether they are coming or going and I don't believe anyone cares what happens. Three of our officers were discharged today leaving us with four officers. As for myself I really don't give a hoot if school keeps or not as far as Okinawa is concerned. I'm not being paid enough to do any thinking or planning and it wouldn't do me any good if I did as someone higher up would stomp all over it. I guess I am getting into a rut out here now but when I get a letter from you, maybe tomorrow, my morale will soar once again. I'll close out for now though honey with all my love to you always and always. I miss you something awful and wish you were with me now so you could cheer me up some. I'll close now for sure before I break down your morale. My love

Always

John"

"9 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen

Another Sunday and another week ended or is it another week just beginning again? I guess either is correct. I made my Easter duty this morning at long last and I am finally relieved for a change. Like a new lease on life, that's the way it feels to me. I guess I'm back on the strait and narrow again. I got three letters from you so far since Friday so things aren't too bad at all. As for me sounding down in the dumps well I guess it was one of my depressed moods.

I'm all confused just like the rest of the guys as to what is going to happen to the rock. It seems as though they are going to forsake (it) and if so why not now. The uncertainty of it all gets my goat and I just resign myself to the Fates not that it does any good at all but there just isn't anything else to do. I have no fault to find about your letters as I receive them quite frequently. You are still writing to me oftener than I am writing to you so under those circumstances who am I to complain.  You are doing a swell job in your letter writing, something I'll never be able to equal - ever.

Thanks a million honey, you're swell. As far as weather goes it's still raining and when it stops it gets stifling hot. Today is different as the sun is out, our first sunny Sunday in a month. By the time you get this letter you should be going on your vacation. I hope you have a good tie and that you take care of yourself. I don't think I'll be able to surprise you this year as I did last year so you'll have to live without me. About that job of yours, when we get ourselves married you can keep it if you wish provided that I am within hailing distance, otherwise you're coming with me if it's at all possible. The reason you should work is the fact that days get awful long when there is nothing to do.

As far as my health ad well being is concerned you don't have to worry about me getting smashed up in a plane crash. I wouldn't allow it. I haven't done any flying for a long time out here so your worries can end as of now. 

Those floods in Pennsylvania won't recall ant of my jaunts into the hinterlands as they are all centered around Pittsburg which was too far west for me to reach with ease. I agree with you as far as Madeline is concerned ~ she is nuts. Maybe someday she'll get hit on the head and begin to think straight again. Whatever got into her head anyway?

I'm sorry to hear that Annie is back in the hospital. When you write to her give her my regards and my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Thanks again for your very nice running account of our first meeting. It brought back a lot of pleasant memories that I'll never forget as long as I live - so help me. As for not seeing me again if you hadn't gone out to her house the following Sunday - well I guess that would have been a 50-50 chance. I was a pretty vain and indefinite youth at the time not doing too much and caring even less. I'm glad though that you did as God only knows my outcome otherwise. I'll never forget it or regret it - ever. I love with all my heart and miss you just as much. If we ever get together again maybe we can do and say things again that will create pleasant memories for us once again. I certainly hope that it will be soon. I have to close out now honey and wash some clothes even though it is hot out. All my love to you always and

Always

John."

"13 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

Hi honey, how are you today? I hope every thing is going well with you. I have two letters to answer that I got yesterday. They were postmarked June 1st. I also got one today postmarked May 23 which makes it an 'oldie' but nevertheless a goodie. Your mail is coming thru fine but the planes aren't coming in as fast as usual and most of the mail clerks have gone home besides. How is my mail arriving back there?

It's still as hot as the depths of Hades and the humidity is terrific. It rains and rains and instead of getting cool it gets muggier and muggier, What a life! This heat will last until late September so I'm in for a long stretch of it. Maybe I'll cut my excess avoirdupois down to a minimum. I guess the heat may be of some use after all. Now I better get around to answering your letters. I see where you possess some motherly virtues especially if you have the patience to have Mary Elizabeth and the Ryans give you a workout while you were taking a sun bath. Oh well I guess you have one consolation in that it wouldn't turn out to be an every day affair for you. Oh well time will tell. As for us knowing each other when we meet again don't think about it. I'll close my eyes and your personal magnetism will draw me in the right direction. Simple isn't it? I'm glad you use my system of hope for the ...?  as it's about all that we can do at present. You understand my position and I'm glad of it. I'll get home to you as soon as I possibly can if only they give me the opportunity to do so. Once I hit the States and get some leave I'll board the fastest and earliest plane East just so I won't waste any time getting home. I'll send you a telegram prior to my flight and if I take too long you can bawl me out something fierce. Agreed? I'm doing a little long range planning but that's the way it will be. Oh happy day!

Your investment in a new bathing suit intrigues me no end, especially the fact that it is a two piece affair and that it does wonders for your oomph. I simply must have a picture and without any unnecessary delay, do you understand! I haven't had a full length picture of you in ages so please send one along to keep me posted on developments. No hint intended. 

Our base is closing definitely in two weeks so the skipper is throwing a shindig for all hands tonight. We are down to 60 men and we lose thirty of them tomorrow so you see our situation is quite hopeless as far as operations is concerned. Our doctor has gone home and we have a trained native nurse here to dress monic cuts and bruises. I think the word used to describe conditions would be 'desperate.' 

Well honey I'll write again tomorrow so take care until then. I miss you more than you'll ever know. I love you

Always

John"

I'm not sure if this is the bathing suit or where this was taken but it is a two piece. 

"13 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

Here I go again, but not quite as long as usual. I'll have to make this a 'quickie.' I'm sorry that I can't make it a long one but the heat and all has dulled my thinking quite a bit. boy it is hot! I almost smother every day. The sun is boiling hot and the humidity is really stifling. It's like Boston during August only quite a bit warmer and much muggier. I hope the rain has stopped long enough for June to break in with all its glory and stuff.

I miss you and home an awful lot an with 'Rhapsody in Blue' on the radio beside me I guess I'm getting a touch of good old fashioned homesickness. I guess I, the man of the world, must be slipping. Nevertheless it's true. I miss you and everything very much. I hope I can get home to you real soon. As things stand out here now I don't think the Navy will be operating out here much after September if they are operating then. What a mess they've  made out here. It's unbelievable, honest it is. Let's not talk about it as it makes me feel lousy, just the thought of it all. I had a chance to go to Shanghai for four days but turned it down. I don't know why but I just did(n't) think I'd like it. The guys that have been there enjoyed it for a while. Black-market is really running wild over there. A lot of guys take cheap fountain pens over there and sell them for ten bucks a piece. Refrigerators especially the ones that make ice cubes sell for $5000 to $10000 a piece. Typewriters are scarce over there also and can be sold for two hundred bucks a piece. This is in American money not that inflated Chinese currency they have in China. About now the place is full of F.B.I. agents who are trying to break up this U.N.R.A.A. racket they have in China. I thought Al Capone and his bootleggers made money. They were strictly school-boys in comparison to some of the big time operators that now make their headquarters in Shanghai.

There is bound to be a stink soon over that UNRAA deal. That's why you people are dieting to make a few million dollars for these racketeers over in China. I guess Europe is about the same, Well honey I'll close out now before I lose my temper. I love you with all my heart and souls and miss you terribly honest. All my love to you

Always

John"

The above June 13 letter was in this envelope dated June 10 - obviously the wrong envelope but I left them together as I found them.

"17 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

It seems a long long time since I have written to you but I hope this goes to you extra fast to fill up the gap. Things haven't changed a bit out here as we are getting plenty of rain, sunshine and a terrific amount  of heat. For the past few months, what am I talking about, for the past few nights I should say the moon has been as big as the whole sky. It hangs so low that it seems as though you could reach right up and touch it if only you were a little taller. The moonlight is beautiful out here as it rises out in the ocean and then begins its climb into the heavens. I wish you could be here to enjoy it but I'd swap it anytime to be with you moon or no moon, in fact it could be raining and I'd still love to be with you. The tides for the past few nights have been very high and after they go out they must leave a mess of dead fish or dead dogs laying on the beach. What a terrible odor it brews up and there is no breeze to blow it away. I've put up with a mess of things since I've been out here so I guess I can put up with a heavy stink. That reminds me the natives out here can't get fertilizer for their crops so they save you know what and scatter it among the crops. In England they call it Midnight Soil but it's 'any time of day soil' out here. There villages were bearable until they started to save that stuff - now Moon Island out in Boston Harbor or the Abattoir would smell like Max Factor's No #1 Factory. I always wondered how the other half lived and now I know. I really don't like it a bit to be truthful and will be so very very glad to return to my own way of living, in comfort and comparative luxury. Oh Happy Day, where art thou?

I was all set to write to you last night but trouble came up that had us all going around in circles all night long. After supper somebody broke into to all our shops and stole a mess of equipment and personal effects. Boy were we p.o'ed. My special coffee-maker was gone, plus fans, flashlight batteries radios and other incidentals we had picked up in our wanderings out here. After we kissed that goodbye and settled back we saw a bunch of soldiers going thru the living area. Everyone went after guns, jumped into jeeps and chugged up to them. We were so mad that we could have shot them. They whined and pleaded and (we) then turned them into the M.P.s. Under ordinary circumstances we would have scared the hell out of them and let them go. Things are getting like that out here now and nothing can be left unguarded. I'm afraid I'll come back to our Quonset hut and find it on top of a trailer going down the road. Someone will get shot pretty soon wait and see. If they take my stuff I'll pull the trigger. Well honey I'll write again tomorrow as I've got to hit the sack. I've started to play ball again so early to bed etc. I miss you with all my heart and I love you sincerely with all my whole heart and will

Always

John."

The following envelope has 6 Green Street, Watertown, Massachusetts crossed out and 15 Fairview Ave, Falmouth, Mass ℅ Mrs McKenna inserted.

King Street runs from Main Street to Clinton Street (the street that runs  parallel to the coast starting at the Clam Shack.) There used to be an antique shop there that I went to with my mother and my aunt Rita. Fairview Avenue where my mother was staying on her vacation is off of King Street. Fairview Ave is the red icon at the top of the map below - the Clam Shack is at the bottom right.

The McKennas were a Scottish couple - in the 1940 census Francis was a manager of a chain store where he made $2080. Victoria was a housewife. They had a 4 year old son Gordon. They had taken out papers for naturalization. They lived in the same house in 1940.

Francis registered for the WWII draft in 1942.  He was at the same address - they had a telephone. He was 37 years old - born May 25 1904 in Scotland. He was working for Western Auto on Main Street in Falmouth.

I couldn't find any street directories for Falmouth - I was wondering how the McKennas were listed in 1946 - if it would say anything about Victoria renting rooms.

In the 1950 US census the McKennas were still living at 16 Fairview Ave. Their son Gordon was now 14, and they also had a 9 year old son, Kenneth. Francis was now naturalized and was a hardware merchant - the O in the column beside his occupation indicates that he owned the business. 

We know that at one point Hannie was rooming at a hotel on Main Street where the nursing home beside St Patrick's Church is now located. Did Mrs McKenna rent rooms to the telephone operators or to visitors to Falmouth? Was she someone that Aunt Nellie knew? Aunt Nellie was working on Jones Road in Falmouth for Mr Russell. I suppose we will never know. 

"18 June 1946

My very very very dearest Ellen,

Hello again. With all these very verys you must realize that I am in a fine frame of mind and that I love you very much. The reason is that I received about a scallion letters from you over the past day or two and I am indeed grateful to you. To be exact I have ten letters to answer so I shouldn't run out of inspiration for a while at least. I also received one letter from my sister keeping me informed of developments on the home front. It is raining out here today so I didn't bother to go to work at all. It's still very hot and muggy and so uncomfortable. From reports it will remain this way until September or October so I'll have to get used to it or else. I guess I had better get to answering at least a couple of your letters while I can before I get a few more that will make the job really mountainous. Now that our anniversary is over I guess we can start on a new year. I'm terribly sorry that it has to start this way with me out here and you back there. I guess we are getting all the tough breaks now. I hope our good luck comes in bunches when we get together as we certainly can use some of it. If you keep getting gifts for your hope chest I'm afraid that you'll have to rent a garage or a  warehouse to store it all. Please thank Aunt Nellie for her generosity as we both appreciate her thoughtfulness kindness and above all her generosity. She's really the tops. Come to think of it I had better commence donating to our future. I would really like to but I'm in no position to do so. I guess I will in time though if they give me some stateside duty for a while. Those pillows sound nice and comfortable and that quilt should be nice too. As for our 'resting' period when I get home, I've made some changes in it. The longer I stay out here the longer we 'rest' and I mean it no fooling. I read a book somewhere or other on the subject and it definitely stated that the more time a man and wife spent together in a bed together, the longer they would be able to hold onto their youth. The way I feel now we'll be like school kids for fifty years from now. I'm all for it but you are the problem. After all marriage is a two way proposition. What are your views on the subject?

As for the blankets you got for your hope chest and Hannie's remark about us under the blanket, all I can say to her is that she is extremely jealous that she can't be under one also. I think that about all she needs. 

Well honey I'll close out for the present and will write to you later this afternoon. All my love to you

Alway

John"

"18 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

Here I am again, at the same place but a few hours later. It is now 9 PM and since we have only one radio station on the rock 

I am being forced to listen to the 'Incomparable Hildegarde.' To be absolutely blunt, she stinks. I guess that adjective she uses to describe herself means that no one else would get away with the stuff she terms singing. I'd turn her off but there isn't anything else to do. Enough of that now to get around to answering your letters. I'm glad that you still find enjoyment out of reminiscing our past few years together, as I do. I dream and think of them a lot. I don't think that I'll ever forget that Seabrooke incident. That really was a surprise package to Rita O'H. I thought she would fall thru the chair she was sitting on when we told her that we were heading that way. I guess I must have been soft and easy to let her boss us around like she did when we first met. To be truthful hon I don't really know who she was protecting, you from me or poor little me from sinister you. Whatever her point of view was at the time I guess it was all in vain as we really didn't need any supervisors nor protectors, voluntary or otherwise. Agreed? As for me being different when I go home Chief, than I was when I left a nice sharp white hat, never you fear. I'll be the sharpest Joe that ever you did see. Just you wait and see. I'll be so sharp that a razor blade will be as dull as a marble. By the way honey where in the name of all that is holy did you ever dig up that name of Dreamboat? I've meant to ask you that on numerous occasions but never did get around to asking you about. Please inform me? I guess those efficiency experts must really be giving you a bad time but business is business. If there is any money to be made those guys will make it but fast. It's pretty tough on you and all but I guess you'll be able to handle it all right. As far as May's increase in avoirdupois is concerned you see the results of drinking beer. If you want to keep that school girlish figure of yours don't drink the stuff. It doesn't build up anything except your 'derrier,' and that gets broader and broader with old age. 

I hope you run into better luck with your vacation than Hannie did on hers. Have a really swell time and if forgetting me for a week will help out forget me - but only for a week. I want you to be happy as happy can be always. 

I hope Jim makes out all right in his business venture. For a small investment they are doing all right so far. Who knows but someday they may be big shots in Waltham. 

Well honey your next letter mentions my technique so I guess I'll sign this off right now and answer it in the next one. I love you and miss you and an awful lot and will continue to 

Always

John"

I wonder what happened on Hannie's vacation? And what was Jim's business venture?

"22 June 1946 

My very dearest Ellen,

It's been almost a week now since I have written to (you) but circumstances just wouldn't allow it. We have (been) under typhoon conditions now since early in the week lashing everything down that is moveable and just sweating it out in general. The whole trouble out here now is the fact that most of the enlisted men out here went thru the last one but none of our officers have seen one. As it is the officers hear these grossly exaggerated tales about the past one and as a result they order everything lashed down. It got so bad that they wanted us to lash down sand bags so that they wouldn't blow away. Did you ever hear the likes of that? We - the enlisted men - think that the officers have gone crazy when they get orders like that. The typhoon is due at three o'clock this afternoon. So far the wind outside wouldn't raise a dust but time will tell. I had the duty last night and was going to write to you but I was interrupted every time I sat down so I gave up and postponed it till now. The mail situation is getting slow out here but maybe it's because we haven't any mailmen with us. There are only thirty of us left and everyone is so busy they haven't the time to ride a jeep about twenty miles to pick up our mail. It isn't the trip as distance means nothing out here, it's just the time that it takes. Since I have been in the navy a jaunt of a few miles, say thirty, seems only to be a real short jaunt. At work we have to travel about two miles between our planes and our shops. I remember when I was home as a poor civilian a trip to Nantasket which is roughly thirty miles or a ride to Worcester seemed like an expedition. Not any more though. I guess the Navy has made a traveller or a wander out of me. That will have to be one of your tasks when we get married either to slow me down or to accompany me in my travels. It isn't so bad once you get accustomed to it but it takes a while. I know at times I wished that I had never left home but I guess that was because I didn't have any one with me to cheer me up and comfort me as you no doubt would have. Well honey I'll answer your letters in another letter that I will write in about an hour. Right now I have to go and check our area and see if it's still there. You guessed it these kid officers are worrying again. I love you with all my heart and miss you the same. 

All my love 

Always

John"

"June 22 1946

My very dearest Ellen,

Here I am again a couple of hours later but still the same day. This typhoon stuff is causing me a lot of grief. The typhoon has come to a temporary halt out in the China Seas and everyone is sweating it out to see if it will come our way or some other. Let it come in all its fury as I'm all set for it now. Enough about the typhoon let's get around to answering the letters that I haven't answered as yet. I have about five of them so I should have plenty of inspiration. 

As far as my technique is concerned, it must have been born in me and a few years of kicking the gong around sort of smoothed it out and removed the rough edges. If I keep this up you'll wind up with the impression that I am a master egotist. To be indefinite by answering a question with a question, where did you pick yours up at? I guess those parties as children that we both attended in our own bashful childish way must also be a very contributing factor. Agreed? I guess we both must have played 'Post Office' and the like so maybe that's it. By the way hon your dressmaking just reminded me that I am in the market for one of these Chinese house coats for you. It's really classy. I have an option on it now. It's green with golden flowers all over it. The only fault that I can find is that it hasn't got a collar or lapels on it. Nevertheless it's really a dandy. When I buy it and mail it I'll give you the word. Has the pajamas reached you as yet? When it arrives please rush along the word. I just read over your experience at Hibernian Hall and I must say that it really startled me no end. Maybe I owe those Joes at Hibernian Hall a 'Thank You' for preventing a panic in which you might have been seriously hurt. If you did get hurt, which thank God you didn't, I'd probably have been rash enough to put a curse on Rita O'Hara for coaxing you to go over there in the first place. From your description of the wind and the rain it reminds me of our typhoon out here in October. It kept up like that for almost twenty four hours but we were lucky as there was no flying glass which is always a real danger in a storm such as that. I'm very very glad that you didn't get hurt as I would have worried myself sick I'm afraid. Incidentally I heard reports of those wind storms over the news broadcasts but never realized that you could be involved in one of them. Please take care of yourself honey, please. That blue set of pajamas with the white flowers that you mention in your letter must really be a sharp article. You make me feel regretful that I ain't around to observe the garment and what's in it. If you keep tempting me like that I'll have you walking around in pajamas all the time in fact that's an idea that I'll have to really consider. I'm afraid that you'll catch cold though. Oh honey, I miss you so much that it almost kills me every time I think of it. I can hardly wait to get home so that we can get together again. When I get home I'll make a wolf look like a harmless puppy as I'll love you so much and so often ~ well enough said for the present. 

I saw the 'Virginian' out here quite awhile ago and I agree with you when you say that it wasn't bad at all. Joel McCrea & Sonny Tufts really gave it a lift. They made a good picture out of one that could have been a real stinker. Peggie and Paul don't seem to be wasting any time getting married. I guess you underestimate Peggy's capabilities. I never saw her as a shrinking violet but as a natural straight forward person with a slight touch of bashfulness. She'll do all right in her own way, watch and see. 

I can't quite fathom you women. You go out and get yourselves permanents and stuff and return home disgusted and O so unhappy because you don't look like you used to look prior to the hair clipping. It's quite confusing. It must be some sort of feminine egotism or something. You get a hair cut and the first thing you do is try to make it longer. It's really quite confusing. I guess you're my opposite. I go get a burn and instead of a tan I turn red and my nose blinks like a red light. As for writing home, well I guess I have slipped quite a bit. I'll have to improve and improve immediately so I think I'll write home tonight. Well honey I'll close out for now and will write again tomorrow. Please take care of yourself honey as I love you and miss you so.

I love you, always & always

John"

The Virginian was a 1946 Western that was a remake of a 1929 movie starring Gary Cooper. 

My cousin Mary Navin and I loved the TV show The Virginian in the 1960s - I especially loved Doug McClure who played Tampas. I used to write stories with us as characters in it. 

"27 June 1946

My very dearest Ellen

Here I am again same place as usual and still loving you and missing you as usual. It's still terrifically hot and humid out here and with plenty of work to do it's really no picnic. It gets so bad sometimes that I think I'll go up in flames or a puff of smoke. My nose is rosy red and very tender from the rays of ol' Sol but perseverence will out so help me. We are working like mad trying to clean out the base before we move to Yonabaro. Anything that  will be of any use to us is going along. Our base is going to be turned over to the army as a housing area for the poor dog faces wives who will be coming out this way in a month or two. The Navy is having wives but coming out but conditions are pretty rugged. From all the Navy personnel on the rock they didn't get more than ten applications. The poor Joes have to build their own homes and furnish it besides. The big drawback is the lack of lumber and accessories. Ice boxes are rarer than gold nuggets as are other home comforting appliances. Its really going to be rugged duty for them. Besides all the inconveniences they wind up with half a Quonset hut and pay $27 a month rent to boot. It isn't really larceny its pure unadulterated robbery. A Quonset is shaped like a half barrel and is forty feet long and twenty feet wide so the poor guys wind up with an area twenty by twenty or about as big as your front room. In this area they have to eat, sleep and wash besides moving about. As far as washing is concerned they may have to use buckets as plumbing is scarce. I guess these women coming out expect a little rough duty, wait until they see how rough it really is going to be and they'll wish to God that they had stayed at home and waited a while. I'm afraid they'll crack up as they have to stay a year before going home. High ranking officers will do all right as all they have to do is growl and everyone jumps to do their bidding. The poor enlisted men's wives will probably wind up sleeping out in a pup tent. Oh the pity of it all. When we get married we are going to live among civilians. 

I got two letters from you this week. Thanks a lot honey. One day there was only one letter for N.A.B. Awase and yours was it. Thanks again and thanks a million besides. We move out of here either Sunday or Monday so we will be very busy. I'll try to write as many letters to you as possible. For the past week or so things have been hectic and I haven't written as often as I would have liked to. Please forgive me as I'll try to make it up as soon as I possibly can. I saw 'Two Sisters from Boston' last night and if you haven't seen it as yet don't miss it as it's really good. Incidentally I went fourteen miles to see it so I'm forced to boost it a bit. Well honey I guess I'll have to close out once again. I'll write to you again tomorrow to clear up these letters that I haven't answered as yet. I love you with all my heart & soul and miss you terribly. All my love to you always and always and 

Always

John"

Two Sisters from Boston is a 1946 film - June Allyson and Peter Lawford are in it. Allyson was about 30 and Lawford was 23 - they were to be teamed together in a couple more films including Little Women in 1949.