Monday, November 28, 2022

1944 January to March

There aren't that many letters from 1944 - I don't know if some are missing or not, but I'll include what I have. 


"Jan 4 1943

My dear Ellen,

Well as I promised you I am writing already and I've only been back two days. I had pretty hectic homecoming but managed to arrive safely nevertheless. As you know I grabbed the 9:00 train, the Hellcat Express and due to my delay in boarding the train I had to stand all the way to Providence. I had a Readers Digest which I devoured on the way. Therefore the time passed rather quickly for me. I played it smart instead of crowding up tight with the rest of the passengers I stood beside a seat with two sailors in white hats. I knew they were C.B.s and were getting off at Providence. Clever me! After getting a seat at Providence I had possession of it all the way to the Penn. Station our destination. But!! The lousy train stopped at every jerk town and whistle stop on the way down. We arrived in New York at 3:00 pm a run of six hours which is creeping along for any train. At Penn station I just made the Chicago bound train thru north Philadelphia and what a ride. I thought when I arrived at Philly I'd be frozen stiff. It was one of those old coaches with single windows and they rattled like nothing on earth. Luckily our means of locomotion was a diesel engine because if it were a coal burner I'd turn black from the soot. Believe me when I arrived it was snowing and snowing hard. Just as you had hoped for as we waited for the street car at the Square Sunday night. I hope my weather guessing was right and that it snowed in Boston also. Since Sunday it has snowed rained and sleeted for two days and has just cleared up. I hope for good. Now the ground is covered with mud, slush, and what else which makes things very very unpleasant afoot.

At present I have a very bad head cold which I am trying desperately to shake, maybe in a very short time I may succeed.

Well I got to scram now as my washing awaits my attention.

Love always

John"








Sun Jan ? 1944

My dear Ellen,

I intended to write to you  sooner but never did get around to it. You really don't realize how fast the time flies around this place especially when you have something to do. As it is I've had plenty of time but very little to write about. I haven't been out on liberty since I returned from home last which makes my stay in period close to three months. Now I'm getting really confused I really meant three weeks to a month. Our weekend liberty situation has been relieved here but not enough to help me very much. We have been faced with a lot of changes here but none changed matters very much. Tomorrow night I may go out and get me a good feed of liver and bacon or something to help me along my weary way. My cold is now broken up but the effects still linger on for how long I can't say. My eyes were affected the most. Therefore the more sleep I got the worse I look and I got sleep a plenty. I'll endeavor to look better on my next trip home. 

I received a few letters from you this past week and again I thank you sincerely. They sort of aid my morale. Lately it has been low due to sickness and the like but it should pick up now. I certainly hope so anyway. Don't blame yourself for giving me your cold as I figure it was in the cards for me anyway. I was due for one head cold this month and I hope it will be the last one for a long while.

I hope Jim is getting along all right and therefore has eased your mothers mind a bit. As for that good night line of thought you are the boss except on very cold evenings and then I'm the boss - OK?

I recall the letter you sent to me recently in which you related your greeting the earth with the lower part of your anatomy and then fearing the people who watched you get up so nimbly would get the impression that you were inebriated. My dear girl what and where do you get such ideas. It baffles me.

Now to get down to the finer things in life. I really honestly hated to leave last Sunday night but I got over it slowly but surely. I intend to get home this weekend if its possible and I think it will be. I'll look bad maybe for a while but should look good before I leave. Well I got me a watch 4 am to 8 am coming up in about 8 hours so I'll sign off now with the idea that I'll write to you again before the weekend. 

Love always 

John

P.S. Aleo got a glance at my letter and wants to know how you can read this dry stuff when he writes so romantic stuff to his women."






What happened to Jim? Why was he in the hospital? And what hospital was he in?


Meanwhile, on January 16, 1944 General Eisenhower arrived in London to assume command of the European theater. His new title was Commanding General, US Forces, European Theater of Operations.



"Jan 21 1944

My dear Ellen, 

This letter I know is overdue but to be repetitious as always please forgive me again. I planned to write every night this week but something always took my mind off it. I finally buckled down so here it is.

My trip was uneventful as usual but as always I almost froze to death on the way down. Luckily I had my long drawers on or I guess I would have. As far as New Haven was fine then they hooked us on an electric or Diesel locomotive. With no steam no heat so we froze all the way to Philly. After Philly I don't know but my heart bled for the poor people aboard. I arrived back in plenty of time so everything was fine. After that chilly ride I had no ill effects save a rather cold feeling which left after I hung over a radiator for a while. Our work over the weekend increased beyond all description so, sofar this week I have been really busy and I mean busy. I worked Wednesday night till midnite to relieve the strain but it didn't put even a dent in it. We've been going strong all week now with no let up in sight as yet. Nevertheless I feel a hundred percent better than before and my low feeling is leaving me slowly but surely I hope forever. The boys are admitting I looked lousy when I came out of sick bay but am getting over it now. 

I still am taking it easy as far as liberty is concerned. I haven't been out since I absolutely refuse to go out till I feel I am in shape for it. Liberty around here isn't like a night at home it means about three hours sleep if your lucky and I'm in no mood now to go around tossing away sleep. Don't get fussed up and imagine I'm a derelict or something 'cause I'm not and am a long way from it. I was really sick and was told by the MD's that I was so I promised myself that I would take it easy. I figure that a good time is like running down a steep hill with a steeper one to climb up. To much fun sort of runs you down and when it comes to going over that steep one it takes a lot of pulling to get you over.

I got my diploma the other day for first class and will enclose it if it fits. My rate goes into effect I don't know when. They are all confused around here and pointing in different directions as far as finding out what's to be done. Maybe this month maybe next month. Personally I'm not worrying. Its there I know and will come along in due time. 

Well I inquired about going to hydraulic school but was declined as my rate wasn't included in this class. My division officer tried to change their mind but no soap. If he can't change their mind it can't be done. He made a note and promised me a chance at the next opportunity. I've come finally to the conclusion that I shall get as much education as possible out of dear old U.S.N. as possible. After all it don't cost anything and it's very expensive and worthwhile as far as civil life is concerned. So here's hoping. I got that letter you promised would be here and another to boot. Thanks a lot and keep it up.

I hope by now you have grown used to your 'rock' and that it doesn't blind you any more. I hope not. 

Well tonite we are changing barracks and we have to move so I'll get about my duties and sign off. 

I'll write again over the weekend so take it easy. 

Love always

John"








Jan 26 1944

My dear Ellen,

Well, I didn't write over the weekend but am doing so now to keep my promise that I'd write. I haven't much to say but will endeavor to carry on as good as possible. I received two letters from you today I guess they were written Sunday and Monday and I was really pleased to get them. I read them over quite thoroughly and I see that you are still making the girls jealous or whatever you want to call it. Oh well as long as your having fun and happy doing so well all I can day is keep it up. I was glad to hear that Rita had a chance to be set back and also had the opportunity to rave over someone else's good fortune. Since things between you and her are so friendly I'll resort to more friendly tactics in any effort to please. I understand your sentiments and will do my best to keep things friendly and sociable between her and me. I hope. She is probably pulling her hair out now that she and Tommy skidded around but after all I still insist Tommy was lucky in getting away from her.

Well/Will it take Gin long to increase the future population and I hope the best for her. I hope Harold turns out to be ok and doesn't return to his musky flirting that took place before the marriage. 

Bye the way I hope Jim makes out all right and gets out of the hospital ok. I'm glad to hear that he has improved. The way you write about that trip up to the hospital its a wonder they don't detain you for over exertion or something. If you think you have stars there you ought to see them down here. The dippers pour them out there are so many. Its really swell. 

As of lately to keep the record clean and straight I haven't as yet left the station but intend to go to Philly this weekend with a couple of the boys. We're going to a musical in town a colored revue with an all colored cast. Its press notices are swell but we'll see. As for Sunday who knows? This town closes down on Sunday and its tough to get something to do. We are going for a quiet weekend so you can take it easy and relax. Undoubtedly we'll run into something good or bad we'll try to have fun.

As for Donald's case of the blues it's a chronic condition with everyone in the service. Dot's doing all right but what good is it doing her. Sailors if they have time will write to any girl they know.       

One of these days she'll meet someone capable of handling her and then she'll be on the right track again. Well I've got to close now so relax and take it easy.

Love always

John"








Is Jim still in the hospital? What hospital? Was it service related?

Who are Donald and Dot?



"Feb 1 1944

My dear Ellen,

Well here it is Tuesday and as you can see I have survived my weekend quite well. I had a very good time even though I do say so. I saw that show 'Tropical Revue' with K Dunham and it was really good. It was weird at the beginning but came into full swing about the end. They did every kind of rhythmical gyration that ever came into civilization. From what I understand Denham saw all these dances done by natives from Tahiti to Haiti and back again. Three of us made the weekend together and we really made it. We had us a hotel suite which we got very reasonable and began our liberty feeling like kings. We slept most of our time Saturday afternoon and hit the town early in the evening. After messing around for a while we took in the show which took about two hours and a half. After the show we went into a night club and saw the final floor show. Not being in a rip roaring mood we left the place as we found it in good shape. About one-thirty we reached our hotel and sacked in for good. You may ask why so early well I'll explain. All the joints in town close at midnight in Penna. so there was no place to go to amuse ourselves. This ruling goes into effect for Sundays too which makes Sundays very dull indeed for everyone except those in the know and we weren't in the know. If we were in the know we wouldn't have spent Sunday afternoon in our room or suite in the hotel reading the papers sleeping or wash(ing) our faces as good little boys should. 
Our stay in the hotel was over at 5:00 PM and we left reluctantly. We were as hungry as bears and ran into a joint and grabbed us a steak with all the fixin's. Lucky as most of the restaurants were closed downtown. To develop our legs we walked about 14 blocks downtown which made us feel good although foot weary a wee bit. After a short discussion we decided to take in a movie and wound up seeing the 'Fighting Seabees.' Its a fairly good picture as far as it goes but the feminine attraction spoils it. The picture would have been really good if they had shot the girl at the outset and went on from there. She's everywhere. In fact if the rest of the picture was bad I'd blame her and curse her for it. It isn't an authentic picture in the least just a story built around a story. 
There was good action in it even I might say twice as good as in 'Guadalcanal Diary' which was built up to the skies. But the girl still but a jump(?) in it. If after seeing it you imagine a faint foul odor its her - Susan Haywood. Sunday nite I wound up in an Irish club in a town near the base. In fact we were on our way back when we dropped off just to see what was on for the night. It was dull then quiet then all hell broke loose in about an hour. An Irish fiddler and piano player started to give out. ----WOW-----. My weekend was complete. I heard every Irish song ever written and a lot more that haven't been written yet. They did jigs reels sets and what not ----when I returned I was exhausted and just got over it. 
Well I'll close now
My Love always -
John"










tells us that:

"African-American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and activist Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) enjoyed one of the most successful dance careers of the twentieth century. Tropical Revue debuted at the Martin Beck Theater, New York in 1943, presented by impresario Sol Hurok and starring Dunham herself, who is featured on the front-cover wearing fishnet leggings, and dancing to disembodied hands playing a congo drum. ...
Considered the “matriarch and queen mother of black dance,” Dunham won acclaim for her innovative interpretations of ritualistic and ethnic dances which she based on her research of black culture. At the apogee of her career during the 1940s and ‘50s, she achieved great success throughout Europe, Latin America and the U.S. with her own all-black Katherine Dunham Dance Co., which she directed for nearly three decades. The company constituted the sole self-supported black American dance troupe of its day. Over her long career, Dunham choreographed over ninety individual dances; made important contributions to the field of dance anthropology, and innovated African-American modern dance. She also choreographed and starred in dance sequences in various movies and was the recipient of numerous awards." 

The book, Katherine Dunham: Dance and the African Diaspora, was written by Joanna Dee Das and published in 2017. The following is an abstract from a chapter in the book.

"Race and Representation During World War II" examines the choices Durham made about racial representation both onstage and off during World War II. In 1941, Durham settled in Hollywood to make films such as Carnival of Rhythm, Star Spangled Rhythm, and Stormy Weather. Hollywood gave Durham national exposure, but also gave critics fodder to accuse her of cheapening her artistry. Her 1943 show Tropical Revue was a major hit on Broadway and subsequently toured the country for eighteen months. The show set off debates about whether Durham was an artist or entertainer, debates that revealed radicalized assumptions about black women dancers. The company faced rampant discrimination on tour as they struggled to find hotels and restaurants that would serve them, leading Durham to take a more public and vocal stance against segregation. The chapter also discussed the political ramifications of Dunham's relationships with white men, including husband John Pratt."


My father didn't like Susan Hayward in The Fighting Seabees - this was a 1944 war movie about how the Seabees were formed. Susan Hayward played a war correspondent - John Wayne was the star.


My father didn't like Susan Hayward in the 1944 propaganda war film The Fighting Seabees - she was playing a war correspondent in the Pacific where John Wayne was building airstrips. It was the biggest budgeted film in the Republic Studio's history. Below is one of her pin up pictures from the 1940s.



The following letter as you can see is dated 5 February 1944, but it was enclosed in an envelope dated Mar 6 1944 which seems a little strange - I put it in the order of the date of the letter, but I'm not sure this is correct.


"5 February 1944

My Dear Ellen,

Well another Sunday has rolled around and another week commences. 

Last week really flew by; it must be due to the two days that I had off. I had to work my last liberty weekend and we were compensated by a forty eight during the week. We had a pretty good time as times go but things are dead during the week. 

We stayed in Philly and slept in a hotel. We took in a couple of shows we wanted to see and missed the best one. The kid I was with a red head from Pittsburg saw the 'Song of Bernadette' and he said it was really very very good. He has a taste for things that I like so I'll have to see it real soon. Is it playing around Boston at all? I suppose not! Well -----------
All our work we've been rushed with is now back to normal and we can go at it easy once again. This is indeed a relief as the work kept piling up and I mean piling. The experimental job we had took us three weeks which left us three weeks of back work to make up for. After the completion of the 'X' job we all turned to and cleaned things up in about a week. Today we didn't do much but lay around. I'm hoping it keeps up. Well honey I made my first class finally so don't be frightened at my next jump. I hope it won't be down instead of up. It seemed a long time in coming but it finally arrived. 

I'm fortunate though because if I was at Quonset I'd have to wait till June at least maybe September so down here I jumped the game. If things run kind of smoothly down here and I'm still around I should be chief by January next. Well if its offered I'm only too too willing to accept. 
I got a mess of mail since I wrote last the exact number I don't quite remember but about nine-tenths of them came from Watertown Mass. Again I extend my heartiest thanx for the kind interest you display towards me and (I) sincerely hope that it will be extended indefinitely. I just reread that last sentence and have come to the conclusion that I am developing a very smooth line of gab, so smooth in fact that I am liable to commence believing it myself. 

I just had to get me some ink to continue. Well I see you are resorting to the ouija board, not weejue, as to your future and the like. A fine thing but maybe. For truth's sake I don't believe in them as they speak only your nervous reactions flowing from your fingertips. I messed with them when I was a kid and there a fake. Sometime when you have time ask a question and really concentrate on the wrong answer and see how it comes out. It surprised me no fooling. You said Mae had a very complicated dream about us. Well pray tell what could be so complicated about me and you? Oh well! As for its meaning I don't know, but I do know you are getting extremely superstitious as of late which is good at times and bad also. Superstition only tends to make one fearful which I don't want you to be never. Fearful of no one, save God Almighty. 

Well I've go to close now and see some broken down movie. I can't recall the name of it but if I can imagine it will be a lulu. 

Well take it easy honey and I'll see you this weekend if all goes well as I know it will.

(My father drew a picture of crossed fingers.)

Love Always

John

P.S. Poor dear ol' Hannie."









I remember playing with a ouija board with my cousins when we were young. I always wanted to believe the answers but I was a doubter.

I was surprised to read that my father's pal liked The Song of Bernadette - I think I saw it years and years ago - maybe at school? It was about the Immaculate Conception appearing to Bernadette at the grotto near Lourdes. Jennifer Jones played Bernadette - this was her 3rd film - she won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for best actress for this film.




February 14, 1944 Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) headquarters are established in Britain by U.S. General Dwight D Eisenhower. Planning for the invasion of Europe had begun in mid-March 1943 before Eisenhower's appointment.That plan was shaped by Eisenhower and the land forces commander, General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, for the initial part of the invasion.



"February 18 1944

My dear Ellen

It is now 7am and I am waiting to go to chow. In fact I've been waiting since 6 o'clock. It won't be long now. In the course of two or three days this station has taken on a million changes. We have a new skipper aboard and he is really damping down on every one. 
I've spent my last few nights washing clothes to catch up for my weekend and to get ready for a locker inspection next Wednesday. It seems a long way off but when you have to do something for that day it arrives before you now it.

Well I got a letter from you yesterday and you said you lost me in the sea of blue hats. Well I played one of my favorite tricks by slipping in a side door on the adjoining track. When I got on the train there wasn't many passengers so seats were very plentiful. I managed to sleep quite a bit on the way down although I'd swear we spent half the night at New Haven. By the time we got to Philly we were an hour and a half late but we managed to make the base on time. When I got here there was a mob at the gate being inspected as they entered and I almost fell over. They don't want us to wear scarfs or roll up our cuffs. We have to be strictly regulation. Pretty soon they'll inspect us before we go to bed and after we get up.

From what is going on they'll be able to drop the 'Happy' out of Happy Acres as this place is called and give it a more appropriate moniker, one to fit the arrival of the new captain. He doesn't bear down on the men alone but on the officers as well. The officers are scared still of him and when the rumor comes that the captain is touring the station they all run around like chickens without heads. They get terribly nervous and awfully confused and when the old man leaves they almost collapse with exhaustion or overwork. 

Things are going all right as far as things go but we'll see. No bad news yet so keep your chin up. 

Well it was good to see Hannie again and I think she has lost some weight but that coat she bought makes her look like a football player especially the big shoulders. Well these days you take what you get and that isn't too much as you know. Well its time for chow now so I'll have to go now. Incidentally beans are the main course. Well take it easy and I'll write again soon. 

Love always

John"











On February 19, 1944 Leipzig, Germany was bombed for two straight nights. This marked the beginning of a "Big Week" bombing campaign against German industrial cities by Allied bombers.


By February 26 the "Big Week" bombing campaign came to a successful conclusion; the American P-51 Mustang fighter with its long range proved invaluable in protecting American bombers over Germany.



"Tuesday 1944

My dearest Ellen,

It is now five ayem as I scribble here to you but don't worry about it. I wanted to write last night but I saw 'Desert Song' and didn't have much time. Well, I arrived here safely and 'believe it or not' fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. When I saw that for once we were close to schedule I almost collapsed. It was really warm on the train for once and I started to think about summer travel already. In those cars travel will be miserable especially if there any whites (sailors) around. Did it rain in Boston after I left home? Well it rained here fiercely and I mean fiercely. The station here is all loam about eight to ten inches deep and the thaw and rain has made a mud hole out of it. 

Now ------ as for my attitude toward you Sunday I hope you didn't take any offense as I was as happy as a lark all afternoon - believe me. Somehow or other something got into me that made me throw all my troubles and woe to the wind and life once again was all laughs and joy. If I said anything that caused you any hard feeling I'm sorry as I didn't intend it to be that way. When I looked out the train window and saw you standing there I wanted to go out again but just couldn't. It is unexplainable now but then I guess it needed no explanation. To be honest I had a terribly happy time home last weekend and hope all the rest will be the same. Most of my weekends at home are enjoyable but last week even more so.

Well I'm running out of words now as its too early in the morning to attempt to write a long letter as my brain is only functioning on a few plugs. Well I've got to close now for the time being and should be able to write again in two or three days ----------well the chow hall calls so I think I'll eat now. Take it easy honey.

Love always

John"








I hadn't heard of Desert Song - it was a 1943 musical based on a 1928 operetta - it was updated for WWII by having the hero fighting the Nazis. 


 


"March 21, 1944

My dear Ellen, 

Well here we are again! The first day of spring is here again and once again a 'young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love.' I received your letter yesterday and your ribbon of green was a little belated but nevertheless appreciated. 

Things here have been going along real smoothly as usual with no complaints nor gripes. I went to a formal affair last evening and had me a pretty fair time. Since it has been snowing here for the past three days conditions were not at their best so they changed the dress to optional. 

Of course the girls planned on wearing their new gowns and that they did. For a bad night things were really humming and a good crowd showed up. Quite a few were high school seniors and they didn't look bad at all. The band was good until they put on the entertainment after that no one knew what number was coming next. They jitterbugged polkaed waltzed et al in the course of one set and wound up with a conga line. Four of us went my usual clique and we dragged along a Wave, the captains secretary and she had a real good time. She was once our unit yeoman or secretary and after she gets experience filing etc will return to the fold. Everyone of the boys likes her as she isn't giddy or foolish just easy going matter of fact and very natural.  They talk to her as they would any other fellow. She is extremely good natured and will do a good turn for anyone. We are playing our game smart as when she returns she may be able to help us out ------ Politicians and schemers all. I spent a quiet St Patrick's night just toured the town. There wasn't too much doing but we did everything that was to be done. Well I've got to shower and shave and hit the sack so I'll sign off till later. Good night and God bless you.

My love always

John"







On March 24, 1944 the Germans respond to a bomb blast that killed German troops by killing 335 Italians including 75 Jews and over 200 members of various groups in the Italian Resistance. 

Meanwhile the same day heavy bombings of German cities at various strategic locations last for 24 hours.




This next letter does not have a date - just March ? The envelope is stamped April 1 so I am presuming it is March 31.


"My dearest Ellen, 

I'm very very sorry I haven't written to you sooner and honestly hope you'll forgive me. Please! After a lot of grief and worry on my part I can imagine how you feel when you don't get any mail from me. Absentmindedly I've overlooked the fact that I should write to you and keep putting off from day to day the letter I intend to write to you.

When you write in a scolding tone I feel as low as a heel, honestly I do.  I have been rushed this past week with work disappointments etc that go to make up our daily living around here. Our weekend was thrown out of kilter by the arrival of an admiral on his annual tour of inspection. Another guy and I had plans to go on a sightseeing trip up state aways but the man with all the gold thwarted our efforts. We went to Philadelphia Saturday instead and with the disappointment still fresh on our mind we had just a mediocre time. I spent Sunday all day sleeping and went to a show Sunday night. 'Old Aquaintance' was the feature and I liked it a lot. I guess Bette Davis just naturally makes pictures good provided they are based on a good story. 

All week long I've been pretty busy working on a new problem child. It seems I get stuck with them all. If you remember not so recently I lost a weekend due to an experimental job, well I don't figure I'll lose any weekends due to this job but I know I'm pulling my hair out trying to solve problems in stress and strain, twist and bend and all the other strains that take place in an airplane. I think I'll have it completed soon at least I hope so. Every new angle is a new problem but it makes life interesting.

I received your letter saying you know your in my good graces by the byline 'my dearest.' Listen honey, your always number one and in fact the only one for me and that's no line. 

I love you with all my heart and always will so help me. I hope I will keep my promise at least on Holy Week anyway, as, if I don't you'll moider me when I get home on Easter. Well I've got to two hit the sack now which is strange indeed as its our liberty night .

Take it easy honey and God Bless you. 

All My Love Always

John"



The movie Old Acquaintance was released in 1943 - it was the story of the ups and downs in a relationship between 2 childhood friends. 




So let's move on to April 1943 in the next chapter!





























Friday, November 11, 2022

1943 - August - December - Jim Keohane joins the Navy - Did my father give my mother an engagement ring or not?

 On July 19, 1943 the Allies bombed Rome for the first time.

July 25 Mussolini was arrested and relieved of his offices after a meeting with Italian King Victor Emmanuel III, who chose Marshall Pietro Badoglio to form a new government.

August 2 John F Kennedy's PT-109 is rammed in two by a Japanese destroyer and sunk off the Solomon Islands. Kennedy became a war hero after his rescue of the surviving crew members. I grew up hearing about the Kennedys - I remember during our summer vacation the adults huddled around the TV in the front of Cullen's cottage in Falmouth Heights watching the 1960 Democratic National Convention where Kennedy was nominated for President. We watched his presidency on TV. We were glued to the TV after his assassination and through his burial. Sr Gonzaga presented me with his book - Profiles in Courage - after I had been out of 6th grade with the measles and scarlet fever for almost 2 weeks and came back to got 100% on a test. Monseigneur Houlihan autographed it. So the Kennedys were important to our Irish Catholic family.


"Aug - 19, 1943

My dear Ellen, 

At last I am writing to you and it already appears to be a novelty, an enjoyable one to say the least. I intended to write to you sooner this week but one thing after another prevented my doing so. I really must get on the ball and keep up my correspondence with my buddies elsewhere that I have let go astray and slip away. All the letters you wrote to me over the past past two weeks I have just read over and after reading them I think you really want me to write. There isn't much to say from this point but I shall do the best I can. I met a kid I was in 'boot' camp with and he just arrived here from Pensacola. He is a radioman gunman and was in the same class as the kid I met last Sunday. Remember? I told you about him. For the past three mornings I have had intentions of getting up early and going swimming but I just never did get around to it. I don't know what is the matter maybe I am falling in love with my bunk. I don't believe that would ever due because one love life is already tossing me around something fierce. Well Monday I start on days and things will be all right again, I hope. I know it will at least be a change.

As I am writing to you now I can just about picture you slaving and pouring thru your books in an effort to figure out a three cent difference in the books. Good luck! The last few nights I have noticed millions of start everywhere in the sky and late in night a beautiful big yellow moon rising over the hills on the island across the bay. Boy I just go out of this world. 

This afternoon I must continue with a bit more studying and make up my assignment if I intend to go up for second class next month. 

I got my whites back from the tailor Monday and when you see my hulk graced by these garments you will collapse. Every time I breathe the seams stretch and stretch but never give out. I can't afford to get any added weight on my frame or I will be forced to discard them entirely which I don't intend to do. I shall be forced to borrow your girdle if matters come to worse. 

By the way my pen is acting up. I am afraid I am running out of ink so for now 

Love always

John"







September 3, 1943 A secret Italian Armistice is signed and Italy drops out of the war. Mainland Italy is invaded when the British XXIII Corps lands at Reggio Calabria. On the same day Nazi Germany begins the evacuation of civilians from Berlin. 


September 10 German troops occupy Rome and took over the protection of the Vatican.



"Sunday

5 September 1943

My dear Ellen,

As you have probably noticed it is Sunday afternoon and as I am writing I am being soothed and comforted by the music of Andre Kostelanetz? whose soothing mellow strains ease my heart and mind no end. I am under the spell of a severe case of the sniffles which I am trying my very best to shake. Right now I am hungry as about this time 5:00 pm is usually feeding time at Keohane's when yours truly is not on duty at this confounded spot on God's good green earth. I am attempting to squeeze all my correspondence in now as all week long I'll be studying even next weekend when I'm home with you. Don't fear not when I'm with you but in between time (ie when I'm sleeping, etc) I'm coming along pretty well as it is but I'll know that book inside out before I take that test. In your spare time you can say a prayer or two as yours are always answered whether for good or for not so good. I just finished a letter to my brother giving him a little advice on the ways of the cruel cruel world and tipping him off on the ways of counter acting the wiles and snares of the wicked. 

I couldn't resist the temptation to eat so here I am again writing still, I hope. My boy Oleo going on liberty tempted me into going to chow and after making very appealing and mouth watering I joined him. The meal ? spaghetti and ? what we(re) OK. The added substance with the spaghetti were a substitute for meat balls and appeared and tasted like chicken croquettes but they weren't. I really don't know what they were. I ate them so that ended it. I am now writing a few word(s) again  as study time draws near. 

I am coming home Friday night and will have the weekend off so prepare yourself for something I don't know what. Saturday being my birthday I will be 'his exalted majesty' or some other less revered individual over come by circumstances beyond my control.

As I told you before this weekend will also be your birthday so relax. Well I got to scram thru a book now so again I say relax and take care of yourself.

Love Always

John"







My father's birthday was September 11 - my mother's was September 14. 


He said he was being soothed and comforted by the music of Andre Kostelanetz (1901-1980) - he was a well-known conductor who began his career in Russia and proceeded to conduct the New York Philharmonic and orchestras all over the world. He is synonymous with orchestral music called 'easy listening,' 'light,' or 'semi-classical.' He arranged pop songs, Broadway show tunes and familiar classics for his orchestras.

The website - https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/andre-kostelanetz/ - has a really fascinating article about him. 




"Sept 22 1943

My dear Ellen,

As you can see I have no(t) gone as yet and I contemplate arriving in Boston Sunday nite if every thing turns out all right. I was home Monday but having to rush both ways I neglected to phone you. I hope you will forgive me. I am now getting ready to go to work and haven't much time. I intended to wait till I got definite word but none has come as yet. If this letter (?) appears to be short please, again forgive me as I will talk about it Sunday.

Love Always

John"





September 26  the Germans placed an extortion on the Jews of Rome with an order to produce 50 kg of gold within 2 days or face massive deportations. Pope Pius XII offered to loan the Jewish community 15 kg of gold with interest and with repayment due within 4 years after the war. Rome’s Jews and citizens came up with sufficient gold to make the Pope’s offer needless. There was a lot of controversy about Pope Pius' role in the war - he was criticized for not speaking out against the Nazis from the beginning of the war and especially when the Final Solution was made know.  He was criticized for not doing more to save the European Jews. 

Hugh O'Flaherty was an Irish priest from Cork who was working in the Vatican during the war.  He recruited other priests, nuns, civilians, and others and set up a network to save thousands of Allied POWs, Jews by hiding them in monasteries, convents, and private homes. O'Flaherty escaped detection - he went about Rome in disguised. A Nazi officer painted a white line along the boundary between the Vatican and the rest of Rome - he threatened to kill O'Flaherty if the Monsignor crossed the white line into Rome. He was know as the  Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican

Reports are that Monsignor O'Flaherty saved over 6, 400 people. There had been 9700 Jews in Rome - 1007 were shipped to Auschwitz - the Catholic Church saved 5000 - the rest were hidden by other individuals.



October 3, 1943 Churchill appointed Lord Louis Mountbatten (Prince Philip's uncle) as commander of the South East Asia Command. 



"Oct 4, 1943

My dear Ellen,

At last I am writing to you and I am sorry that I haven't written sooner.   My only alibi is that at present I am busier than a one handed painter with a severe case of the 'Seven days itch.' They told us we were shipping out almost a month ago and we are still here. We are on edge afraid to plan anything or do anything for fear of orders arriving to throw everything into turmoil. As it stands now I'll probably see you Saturday if not I'll either be in Philly or well on my way. Every thing is set here for shipment except a few last minute details but from reports the Bureau is running into a mess of red tape at Philly. Since I've had things postponed this far I won't mind another week, say till next Tuesday. I received your letters for over the past ten days and deeply appreciate your interest. 

Every time I received one I opened it ever so cautiously afraid that - well maybe you would be in a sort of depressed mood in my failure to write you. After I read them and there was no sign of indignation in your manner of writing I felt like a little kid that stole a piece of cake and when he was apprehended failed to be scolded. What a relief. So today my guilty conscience forced me to write. Please forgive my thoughtlessness. 

Well honey you may now address me as AM 2/C. I made my rate. Everyone who went up with me made it also so everything is OK. Thanks a million for your prayers. I think they must have done it. I am making a resolution now to write more often . So I deeply hope and you pray that I see you Saturday ------------ Please.

My main reason is you, my second is my brother Joe wants to join the Sea Bees. I got to get home to save him.

Love Always

John"








My father seems to be always apologizing for not writing.  I am wondering how I would feel in my mother's place - would I be mad that I hadn't heard from my father or would I understand that he was in the service and might not have time? She seemed to be pretty understanding. 


October 6, 1943  Himmler ordered the acceleration of 'Final Solution.'


The stationary for this next letter is stamped US Naval Air Station, Hatboro, Pennsylvania. I found a little information about it on the website - https://coldwarhistory.org/projects/willow-grove-naval-air-station

"Former NAS JRB Willow Grove is located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles north of Philadelphia.

In 1926, aviation pioneer, Harold F. Pitcairn ... purchased a large section of farmland on the west side of Doylestown Pike (now Pennsylvania State Route 611) and constructed a hangar and a grass airstrip. The airfield was named after the nearest town, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. At the time, Horsham was a rural township with little significance. That farmland today is the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS-JRB) Willow Grove located in Horsham, Pennsylvania. 

From 1926 to 1942, Pitcairn used the airfield for numerous air shows and to design, construct and test a number of aircraft, including the Autogiro and Mailwing, which was used by the United States Postal Service to carry mail starting in 1927.

In 1942, Pitcairn sold his airfield to the United States Navy, which launched a classified anti-submarine warfare program at the base. Two hundred fifty naval personnel from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard took possession of the field that year. In January 1943, the field was officially commissioned the Naval Air Station (NAS) Willow Grove."



"October 12 1943

My dear Ellen,

Well I have arrived here at last and everything is terrific here. Till we came there were about fifty sailors and two hundred waves. Now there are about a hundred and fifty sailors and the Wave situation hasn't changed a bit. 

Every thing is terrific, I repeat but our weekend liberty is short from Saturday noon till Monday morning at 0800 am.  I will just about be able to get home for a few hours Sunday that's all but I'll make it anyway. We have every other weekend off here plus every other night. We are about seventeen miles out of Philadelphia on top of a plateau over looking the most beautiful scenery in the state. Its simply swell. Now we are the main group on the station will eventually be kings here - I hope anyway. We have a beautiful spot swell barracks swell officers and a beautiful ships service in the joint. Its only a small place but its nice & cozy. The field has three runways but none are too long for our planes. When they take off the(y) miss trees around the edge of the field by inches and when they land they leave the field and wind up in a rough old corn field adjacent to our field. With a little experience we'll navigate ok I hope otherwise there will be a few crashes around here.

Already I have been stuck for a dirty detail clean the lavatory and wash room. It turned out to be easier than I figured and now things are sailing smoothly. We spent yesterday and today unpacking our gear and getting set up we are about a month behind in our production and it will be a few months of hard work before we get on smooth sailing completely. We have a commanding officer here who is all a guy can ask for. He's a millionaire and a swell guy besides. Anything we want he('ll) get us he says. We were warned to keep mum as this is the biggest alien district in the country and is constantly under the surveillance of the FBI. I rate liberty tonite but I washed my blues and haven't dried yet. A few of the boys are hear but most of them have left for Philly Camden NJ or Atlantic City. Not bad eh kid. Well I got to wash my hammock sea bag etc and will write soon again.

Love Always

John"







My mother's brother Jim Keohane joined the Navy October 15, 1943.



On www.ancestry.com I found a Navy muster roster of the crew for the US Silenus commissioning on 9 August 1944 - it listed James P Keohane as a crew member - his serial number was 803-03-21- his rate was metalsmith 3rd class - he was received on board like all the rest of the crew on 9 August 1944. I wonder if this was our Jim?



I found the USS Silenus on Wikipedia. She was a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender in service with the US Navy during WWII. The USS Silenus started life as a Tank Landing Ship to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. This enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach. 

She was commissioned on 8 April 1944 but then decommissioned on 29 April 1944 at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, Maryland for a 104 day conversion to a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender. She was recommissioned on 9 August 1044. During WWII she was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. She was decommissioned on 14 March 1947 and scrapped on 25 July 1947.

I have a picture of Jim Keohane taken in Washington DC on September 7, 1944 - this was a month after the USS Silenus was recommissioned in Baltimore a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender - whose  job was to provide necessary fuel and provisions to the torpedo boats for which she was responsible. So it seems that Jim might indeed have served on the USS Silenus.


The picture below is the USS Silenus on 12 August 1944.






Oct 17 1943

My dear Ellen,

Today is Sunday and to be really definite it is about eleven ayem. At writing I am under the strong powers of religious music coming over the airways from Baltimore. This place my dear is the most peaceful place in God's earth. This morning for chow we had eggs Sunny side up with bacon the first time we had it since I joined up. This place is full of new surprises and as they fall I'll tell you all about them. I got two letters from you already this week and I too am surprised at the rapid delivery of mail both to and from you. I am getting accustomed to this place now and am getting into the real routine of things. For the first week here I have been a compartment cleaner with another boy of mine. It was a real racket and we worked it right up to the hilt giving little and taking much. It was in fact a combination of a chambermaid and janitor and only a four hour a day job - after dinner we went to Ships Service and really bothered the hired help there. There are five or six Irish kinfolk working there and we get treated royally. We are getting well acquainted in town now and in a few weeks, I hope, we'll be sort of established here.

The townspeople are very very friendly as I told you before and we are treated as we like to be treated at least as half-decent human beings. I haven't been to Philly yet but may get there in time. I am in no hurry as the reception we get in these small towns is to good to toss aside. Philly is a big navy town but sailors seem scarce and soldiers even scarcer. We had an outfit here that stole the hearts of all the girls and they are all broken hearted since they have left. Oh, well, its common fact that sailors love 'em when they get to port and then leave them flat. And did they leave these girls flat. They have followed the sailors to their new posts some going as far as Quonset and Norfolk, Va. They call it love but I call it madness. There is an Irish gal, well her parents are Irish, who works at Ship Service we've been bothering who is a typical example of the type I am referring to. She went out with the star of the football team one Friday night and the following morning she was engaged to him 'believe it or not.' Well he treated her rough so she tells us always neglecting her and never paying any heed to her cries etc. Well he left her flat poor gal and now she is so bulue. What a line she has and I thought I was good at stringing someone along. She has me beat to a standstill. The boys are all competing  for her affections but she has rocks for brains and as a result no one gets no where. Well I must and positively press my clothes as I have Shore Patrol duty tonight and must look sharp. 

Incidentally we must wash all our clothes here otherwise we will go broke paying our laundry bills etc (shirts laundered .13 each.) 

Well got to close now so take it slow.

I'll see you two weeks from next Saturday

Love Always

John"






"Oct 28 1943

My dear Ellen,

I wrote you a letter on watch last night but since the pen I was using was off the beam a bit I finally decided to write to you now as I wait chow. It has been raining here steadily since the last time I stood a watch which was Friday night. It doesn't pour and stop like at home it comes down moderately heavy all day long and all night long making the walking here very dismal and muddy. The ground around here is mostly clay and with this added moisture the stuff turns into a quagmire that when it sort of gets attached to your shoe really sticks and is there to stay. In order to get it off it must be chipped and washed with water. You can't brush it off its so sticky or tenacious to really exercise my vocabulary which I think needs exercise. I got a letter from my brother who is now at Petuxet River, Maryland about 20 miles from Washington. He says its real nice there with good liberty and conditions but the transportation situation is very very poor. He gets two liberties a month, weekends that is - one long and one short which from the tone of his letter he really intends to make use of. After school I really can't blame him a bit.

To clear up matters I received your picture at long last and really liked it. Down here it seems even better than when you showed it to me at home. Thanks a million. 

Its about time I had myself mugged again and when I do I'll send them along to you. I wish camera film wasn't so scarce and I could really send you some very neat shots of a million and one things I've seen and liked. I'm going to get sort of friendly with some of the photographers on the base and see what I can do.

All things are still about the same around here maybe a little damper if you know what I mean. We are finally getting organized and our production has picked up considerably. The officers expressed their gratitude and they continue to be real nice fellows. I am sending out feelers for a leave but have had no comment made as yet. I am working on it slowly but very deliberately. 

Incidentally I just returned from a very lovely palatable breakfast of oatmeal, a pear, eggs, sunny side up and bacon with coffee as a chaser.  And you wonder why I like it here. Its really something no fooling. I am, since I arrived here become almost a continuous pipe smoker. I smoke about four cigarettes a day now and already I feel better no fooling. Maybe I'll be one of those easy going devil-may-care guys they show in the papers. 

We are all getting accustomed to our new home here and the few complaints we do have are easily squelched or should I put it, as they say in Europe - exterminated, liquidated, etc. 

Well I have to go to work now so I'll write again in a day or two. Keep the chin(s) up and stuff ----------adios.

Love always

John"







I was shocked when my father wrote that any complaints they had at the naval air station were easily exterminated or liquidated like they say in Europe. That is a clear reference to the Holocaust and sounds so glib that I can't believe my father wrote it. I get that he tries to improve his vocabulary - some of his sentences are quite flowery - but to make light of such a horrific campaign by the Nazis to kill all the Jews in Europe is really inexcusable. He obviously knew what was going on in Europe - he might not have known the extent of the killing centers - I don't know how much news the military had access to - but I am still flabbergasted. And what did my mother know?



"Oct 30, 1943

My dear Ellen, 

It is now Saturday night in Philadelphia and as usual I am confined in my barracks. All the excitement we have here is radio music and as a last resort take a nap. We have a new pool room and bowling alleys set up but they are mobbed most of the time. I've put in a very tegious day and am now attempting to relax so I can sleep. If I go to bed now I won't fall asleep for hours over exertion or something. I don't like to go to bed early anyway and on the other extreme I hate to get up early in the morning. My mother sort of broke me in wrong I guess. Its different here than it was at Quonset. Down here they have a master at arms who comes around every morning to wake you up and when he returns again in about fifteen minutes if your not up your on the restricted list thus no liberty etc. It just don't pay. Maybe that's why I don't like to get up early. This isn't a gripe or fault I have with the place as I still like it tremendously and I mean tremendously. 

I received a few letters from you during the week and they really hit the spot if you know what I mean. That pillow case and banner I sent you I meant to ask you about but it slipped my mind entirely when I was home with you. I still have to get you one from Quonset NAS which I will do when the opportunity presents itself. I'm glad you liked it as I hoped you would. As for viewing your etchings on a venture to your boudoir I shall have to look into it. I still don't think it is scandalous as you say or believe it is - its just your imagination. 

As for that baby shower I'm glad it was a success and I can imagine the eligible maidens gabbing all about married life and prospective wedlock etc. Since you and Mother Keohane are on good terms spring the trap as you suggest but try and make it before three or four months. I hope it materializes as I'm really looking forward to it. 

As far as weather is concerned here the sun has finally stuck out its funny looking nose and things are again coming to life. I had two watches to stand during that rainy season but doing a little or should I say a lot of cheating and breaking usual procedure I dug myself into the hangar and kept dry both nights. So your man has still the luck of the Irish. 

Well I got to scram off now so take it easy.

Love always 

John"






"Nov 10 1943

My dear Ellen, 

Well it is about time I sat down and wrote you a letter as its about a week since I've done so. I'm sorry but time flies by down here faster than you can even imagine and a week or ten days has rolled by before you realize it. Well things are still ok down here although the boys are beginning to gripe and complain. Their biggest gripe is the watch situation around here. It so happens that we were sucked in for all or mostly all the watches around this place. We stand twenty- four watches a day every other day. That means each man gets hit for four watches out of every night duty. It makes it really tough as on liberty nights the boys don't get in till after midnight and eighteen of the twenty four watches are at night so that means little sleep and a crew of very tired men. We have only one alternative - give up liberty for sleep but the boys will be damned if they will. As it is now we are working nine hours a day seven days a week with no weekend liberty at all. On duty nights nine hours working plus four hours watch make 13 hours a day every other day. It is the only thing they really gripe about around here but if it keeps up they are bound to find other reasons. Its really a shame as our immediate supervisors have no say in the watches at all and it is they who get cussed out about the grind we are forced to grind. We are very willing to work if we get liberty but with curtailed liberty and a mess of watches our workmanship and morale is at a very low ebb.

Well now that I have told you about conditions here lets gab about ourselves a bit. By the way how are you coming along with 'Dear Mom' or am I rushing the subject a bit?

I wrote you a letter about a week ago containing a mess of stuff and haven't heard any reply in the affirmative or the negative but since I possess a world of patience I can bear with you a while till you answer it. BUT please answer in a hurry as I am anxiouly awaiting a reply. My jeweler friend here is impatient thus the hurried reply. 

I was thinking about seeing my brother but with no liberty things are quite confused now as I only have nights off. 

Incidentally our Captain here got married tonight in the auditorium amid pomp and circumstance. The fortunate or unfortunate girl as the case may be is an officer WAVE. Incidentally the old boy is worth about seven million bucks so I don't know if he's smart or just lucky. He's 53 she's twenty six so he hasn't much longer to go. Well I have to muster now as I have a 4:00 AM to 8:00 watch tonight which if I remember correctly is the same watch I had the last time I wrote to you. Well honey take care of yourself and take it easy -- I love you --

Love always

John"








"Nov 17, 1943

01:00 AM

My dear Ellen,

Well finally I have come too and am answering your numerous letters now. If you have noticed I inserted the time of writing to keep you informed of my activities such as they are. As on last writing I am again on watch this time from midnite till 4:00 am a real lovely time to be doing any thing but sleeping. But I consider myself very lucky as most of the boys are worse off than I am. You see I sit down at a desk here in the hangar while the other lads have to pound the pavements. We have a watch here out in the middle of the field which is a killer and I mean a killer. There is no shelter and the wind there just roars by, around and thru you. We still can't figure out just what its purpose is and from the way things are running now I doubt if I or anyone else ever will no matter how hard they try. My Irish friend has it tonight  but he is spending his time here and when he hears or sees a car goes dashing down to his post on a bicycle. If he gets caught off post he will undoubtedly wind up in the brig for not being on his post. Its been really cold around here nights for the past week or so but not bad at day time as the sun offers some relief and consolation. If you ever wonder why a guy does not like to stand a watch just you jump out of bed some night say at midnite get dressed up nice and warm and walk up and down your driveway till four in the morning. At four you can go back to sleep if you can then you have permission to put in a days work besides. Oh my loving dear! This watch situation is our only drawback here and we nor our officers see no way out of it but to stand them till we drop. As it is all our officers can do is make up the watch list but the real big shots say where and how many posts we have to patrol and how we have to patrol. At present writing we have five posts to stand. This adds up real nice to a watch every duty night. In between we have a liberty and I'm telling you between liberty and watches things are really going to pop soon. We want liberty and no watches where as they insist on us standing watches but figure we will stay in on our liberty nites to catch up on our sleep but we are as determined as they are that we won't stay in and we won't. 

Soon something will break and I hope it won't be us. I hope I'm not boring you with our troubles but your going to have to hear about them soon so you might just as well be prepared. You'll be hearing about them as long as I have to stand them. -------- Thanks for your indulgence & consideration. 

Well honey I have done some flying down here about five hours and its great. We have four pilots just back from Africa and they handle these big babies just like a good cabbie handles his cab in heavy traffic if you get what I mean. Most of our other pilots are very cautious and reserved and fly them just as though they were buses.

These new men are really something and give you a real thrill whenever you go up with them. The other day I flew with the one who is credited to be the wildest of the pack and is he wild. He isn't crazy as he has control of his ship at all times and knows just exactly what it will & won't do. If he doesn't think he can do it he won't attempt it if (it) endangers anyone. The other day when I flew with him we did a lot of monkeying around way up and then came down close to the ground and I mean down. He put her nose up a little and then down in a dive. It was completely unexpected but hearing about him you can expect anything. We pulled out at about three hundred feet and descended steadily till we just skimmed the ground. He spotted a farm yard and with full throttle he zoomed it. The terrific roar from the engines must have terrified the chickens and cows as they scattered in every conceivable direction. 

Keeping at a low attitude we picked up a railroad track and followed it to Philly as we neared Philly we zoomed up and over a freight train. We were so low to it that the smoke from the locomotive covered the plane. He wanted to go under the Delaware River Bridge but was talked out of it. After a hectic flight we returned. Incidentally the poor guy is grounded that is he is to stay on the ground till he gets permission to fly again. Oh well!

So much for that now to get down to pleasanter things. I wrote a letter that you didn't receive and I informed you my liberty here weekends only have been cancelled but since that time they have been restored and I will be home this weekend unless something unexpected occurs which I doubt - I hope anyway. I am attempting to make connections to fly to Quonset if no soap I'll probably be home by two or three o'clock Saturday afternoon. If I can get me a hop though I should be home in about three hours after I leave here depending on the time the hop is scheduled for. If its scheduled too late I'll use the train. Anyway I'll be home. About that letter I wrote to you and you didn't receive well I'll discuss that with you when I get home as I figure I can gab better than I can write and if there is any arguments big or small I'll be able to cope with them. So be prepared to say yes to everything I ask otherwise there will be arguments galore. 

Well I got to write a letter to my mother now something I haven't done for a long while so I'll close now. I love you honey so keep your chin up and I'll see you Saturday ----------------

Love always

John"







"Nov 22 1943

My dear Ellen,

Well I arrived here at last but with not too much time to spare and I mean it. We arrived about ten minutes early for muster which is really stretching the issue down to the limit. Our train arrived in Philly  at 5:45 AM and after a lot of rushing around jumped the subway to the end of the line where we boarded a bus. The bus took us to Willow Grove about five miles from the base. About 7:10 a Wave picked the three of us up and took us to the base. I have finally come to the conclusion that I was born under a lucky star or something. If she hadn't picked us up we would have been done for. 

On the train down I met a kid who I once hung around with away back when. I knew I saw him before but couldn't place him - he finally made the move and we rode down together. I hadn't seen him for nearly ten years and we talked over old times. What a discussion we had. The talk brought back some of the pleasantest memories of my life. 

He lived next door to me when I was in the last years of grammar school and the first year of high school. He has one brother and five sisters and they were really swell. If you promise you won't get real jealous I'll tell you something. His sister, a year or two younger than him, was my first real girl. That was when I was young and foolish. But you have no reason to fear as she has grown up now and has a couple of kids of her own. They were the swellest people I ever want to meet, no fooling. I remember all the fellows, big guys, there all married and got kids now. How they sang and danced in his house every night with their girls who in a number of cases turned out to be there wives. It was those sessions that gave me a real love for music of all types and moods as I could feel that certain something in it that sort of moves your spirit. I can remember those summer nights as though it were last night or last week sometime. I'll say again it was the happiest memories of my life. I often hoped we'd be the same way but circumstances beyond our control won't allow it now but some day I'll get around to serenading you as those guys once serenaded their gals. At that time 'Ramona' Avalon Remember, when the blue of the night meets the gold of the day, Sweetheart of Sigma Chi et were all the favorites and to this day they are still my favorites and I'm afraid they always will be. If the drift of the letter seems to vie away from you I'm sorry as I don't ever intend to neglect you, never. Well I've given my boy the word about your ring and I should have it by Christmas if every thing goes as planned but never fear you'll get it if I have to walk all the way home to present it to you. Well I got to write to my brother now so please write soon as my efforts are really amazing.

Well take it really slow and relax.

Love always and always

John

Eileen alana- I hope the latter is spelled properly"






Eileen Alana means Ellen darling.


I looked up the 1930 Census of Boston - the Mannings are listed at 11 Cedar Street. Lo and behold at #9 Cedar Street lived the Goulart family - 33 year old Manuel, 32 year old Catherine, and two sons and 4 daughters. Manual was a radio operator for the US government - his parents were born in the Azores. Catherine was from Canada. Joseph Goulart was 9 - the same age as my father - he had been born in Nantucket. When he registered for the draft in 1946, the family was living in Wichita, Kansas.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGQm1ahsWWM - Bing Crosby - "when the blue of the night meets the gold of the day"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=simDyBY7E1E - Bing - Sweetheart of Sigma Chi



Nov 30 1943

My dear Ellen, 

Already I have let a week slip by without answering you but in the future I'll attempt to make amends. Things around here are the same pretty much but I am now pulling strings to get out of my present division. I am now temporarily detached but am still on the roster. Where I am working now, there is a real swell officer who if we swing the deal and get assigned to his shop has promised me first class with flight orders at least two out of every three months that sort of deal is really something in fact it is liking having a guy come up and promise you a job at $100 a week for sleeping at home all day. There are three of us in on the deal. I am working on it real hard at present. If I stay where I am I will be forced to wait till June before I get 1st clsss so you can see how it is almost a seventy dollar a month raise. 

The way it stands now I am in the same shoes as a defense worker. I can't move unless my present officer releases me. So get you in a praying mood honey and get me my objective. So far you have helped tremendously.

Well to keep things straight I've received a few letters from you since I saw you last the most recent being today. As for my Thanksgiving dinner it was really swell plenty of everything. In the morning I did me a lot of work on the outside therefore I worked up a terrific appetite. I went thru the chow line twice and wound up really and honestly full right clear up to capacity for a change. 

At night as you had it figured out I had liberty but I didn't do any howling what so ever. I went to a USO and enjoyed a wonderful evening. To commence they had a turkey buffet dinner and it really hit the spot. I again filled myself. Understand when I say I filled myself I don't mean that I stuffed myself. I just ate until I wasn't hungry any more. After dinner we sat around for an hour or so then we did some dancing till midnite which sort of wore off my accumulated avoirdupois. It was an enjoyable evening and a good time was had by all. I went to our executive officers general the other day last week to be definite and what a gala occasion. I wound up loading a hearse with flowers. I didn't go to the internment but went on liberty for the rest of the day. We got noon time liberty to go to the funeral but had no intentions of going. Just as we were going out the gate an officer suspecting our aims nobly offered to drive us to the funeral home. Our spirits sank down to the bottom if our shoes and our plans were ruined. After the funeral we went to Philly, my buddy and I, to see his sister who is a student nurse here. While there my buddy bumped into a girl from his home town who just graduated from the hospital & was headed overseas with the Army Nurses. My buddies sister plans to join the navy nurses upon graduation for what I don't know. Incidentally every girl, practically every girl, is studying to be a nurse. They are all from up State Penna. There practically all colleens from Irish vintage sometimes mongrels by marriage. 

As for whose going to choose the ring hows about trying my taste on the matter? Please?

Love always

John"







"Dec 10 1943

My dear Ellen,

Brrrr, is it cold. Last night a terrific gale blew up around here and even at this time it is still running strong. Yesterday was a mild calm day but today - again brrrr and brrrr. It is really freezing cold. I'd say it was about +20 degrees F but with a real wind about 30 knots an hour which is really blowing. A few light planes were pretty well banged up last (night) during the height of the blow but since we need work they think, I'm afraid, we'll have to fix them up. 

My 'big deal' came thru as I figured so once again Keohane has come thru with spiritual assistance to aid me in attaining my goal. Thanx a million honey thanks a million. I am now no longer attached to the Radio Radar Unit but am now a permanent member of this station. Its really good and I'm really glad to get away from them. Seven of us are or should I say were transferred over to this new department. The officer is an old Navy chief who is now a lieutenant. He knows men and how to handle them both by use of his tongue and brains. He is very informal and tries to keep everyone happy. I should run into some luck as far as flight orders are concerned. My first class rate has gone thru I have passed all my tests with flying colors. Five of us went over at first and were all recommended for first class with in three days. We put our course in took our final and semi final and am now awaiting my certificate of verification. It is indeed a real good break for me and I shall see to it that my appreciation is felt. Normally I would have had to wait till next June before I could have gone up with the expectation of getting my rate some time in August. So when you see me again I will be first class. I say not bad, that was part of the big deal. My next step will be chief and don't you think I'm not going to try and get it.

Since I wrote to you last a few of the boys have shipped out heading for sea duty. They are now at the Philadelphia Navy Yard waiting for a carrier. It seems to them to be good duty at least I hope so as I have been with (them) too long to see them get fouled up with a 'bad deal' again!

A couple went thru school with me and their primary reason for going to sea is to hit Hawaii or New Caledonia where the rest of the class is now stationed. They are all on leave at present and we have hopes of seeing them again before they go for good.

We have been getting rumors around here that the Radar group is headed for San Pedro California soon so you have no worries now of where they are going 'cause your man is remaining. As individuals the outfit was good but as a unit it stunk if you will excuse the expression. If along the way here my writing changes from time to time it is simply my fingers freezing up and thawing out again so excuse it.

I've worked and worked on my leave but no soap as yet so to save you any over anxiety you can say it just ain't going to be. To be exact my next trip home won't be until after New Year's I'm afraid as they have fouled us up over the holidays. Only ten percent of the station can have leave over the holidays and those ten percent are the fellows with the fewest days leave this year. Since I have had seven days already my time holds me back - we have a mess of new men here just out of boot camp who have had no leave at all so they form the ten percent.

I have tried to finagle my way in but no soap at all. I had intentions of giving you the ring for Xmas but I guess that can't be but I will make it a Little Christmas present in January ('scuse me while I thaw out my fingers there freezing up). Now to return. I am on watch again if you are interested in my whereabouts sitting at a desk all bundled up in clothes and overshoes with a flying Helmut tossed on my head to keep my ears warm. The only difference between here and the outside is that my position is not in the wind which is howling by. All the planes are tied down so they won't go astray .... (?) like.

I've been receiving your letters quite regularly and again I appreciate it. At times mine may be slow but they arrive I hope. I do the best I can under the circumstances. 

I received a letter from home today and was informed of the death of one of my friends who works at Fore River. It seems he was scalded by live steam in one of the boiler rooms aboard ship. I also received during the week a letter from my brother Joe who is at Manhattan Beach New York and was I surprised to hear from him. He has been home over the weekend and he's mad because the kid who lives beside (us) now home on furlough laughed at him because Joe was in uniform. Incidentally Tom my brother is now enjoying himself a leave of seven days I think and I'm afraid I'm jealous of him. He's in the same kind of outfit I'm in or was in. I've given him the dope and I hope he heeds it at least some of the real pertinent facts I've sent his way. 

I've received your pictures and appreciated them a lot. It is too bad I didn't arrive earlier so the sun light that was so abundant could have been taken advantage of. I'll do better on my next trip I hope.

I'm glad to hear that your Aunt Nellie is coming along fine. Please give her my special regards and my very best wishes for a speedy recovery. 

After your novena and all I take it that you should have a very pious disposition now as if it is something unusual. Keep it up my gal. 

Well I've got to scram now as my bunk awaits without. I'll write again in a day or two to give you all the dope I can so relax and take it easy. 

Love always and God Bless you too, always

John

PS I finished this letter in the barracks.

PPS We stand watches now every other night so any time from 8:00 pm - 8:am --------------------------Good stuff ------------!"









December 24, 1943 President Roosevelt appointed General Dwight D Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces as part of Operation Overlord. Almost everyone had believed the position would go to American Chief of Staff George C Marshall.



"Dec 26 1943

My dear Ellen,

I am terribly sorry I haven't been able to write to you sooner but due to conditions beyond my control I have been unable to do so. As it turned out on my return here after my weekend I wound up in sick bay with a nice fever and lovely sore throat plus about a hundred other complications too numerous to mention. I've been trying to write to you but couldn't get up the strength. Coming down Sunday night I got aboard a damp drafty dreary cattle car and froze all the way down. It was so cold I was shivering with my peacoat on. Every body was complaining about it but nothing could be done. To top it off the train didn't leave Boston till 11:30 or after therefore we were at least a half hour late before we started. When we got in Philly we were forty five minutes late leaving me only an hour to get to the base. I didn't make it in time. I was twenty five minutes late. Nothing happened to me as my chief was the only one who knew I was absent. I've come to the conclusion tho that I'll have to leave Boston earlier so I can have some spare time just in case. Well Sunday I didn't get any sleep and Monday night I had a watch. Tuesday morning found me very miserable indeed. I was running a fever had a headache and a sore throat to match. Wednesday I felt worse so I reported here to sick bay where I've spent a hectic time. Today I feel good although a little woozy from being in bed so long. If I get in a bed again my back will break.

They have been giving me pills here till there coming out my eyes but there working and as long as they work I won't mind much. I hope to be released in a day or two, definitely for New Years so don't worry about it.

I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here and didn't mind it a bit. We were treated well by all. The Christmas dinner was something real - I'll send you the menu just to show you. They had their party here and although there wasn't to be any liquor everyone was ossified and I mean ossified. Maybe it was just as well that I was in sick bay after all. I've spent all my Yuletide listening to the radio where I've been entertained royally by outstanding artists. Christmas here was a lovely day the sun shining nicely and nice and cold out so they tell me. But what I can't understand is why they sing 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.' I'm looking forward now to New Years so say a prayer. I'm supposed to be in bed as I write this but have sneaked out for a while. I expect the doctor around any minute therefore I'll have to close now -----------

Love always

John"








So my father was home for a weekend - did he give my mother the ring then? What gives? What a way to end the year!!