Monday, February 23, 2015

July 9, 1953

Thurs night

Dear Mom and Dad

Haven't heard from you yet.  Guess I will get a letter about Mon or Sat, not much new here.  Don't know what I'll do this weekend yet.  I might go to Fresno or Oakland.

I went to the White Hat Club last night.  That's a club where the Sailors and Waves go here at the base.  It's real nice and they have a band here about 3 nights a week.  I went with the guy I traded blankets with.

From what I have seen of the Navy I wouldn't mind being in the Navy.  It's for four years though.

I haven't gotten any post cards yet.  If I find some I'll send them to you.

We had strawberry shortcake for dinner.  It's pretty good.

What's new around home.  Have you tried anything with the car yet?  Well not to much or to say.  I haven't done much of anything to tell about.  I'll drop you a line later and write me as soon as you can.
Love, Ted

Friday, February 20, 2015

July 7, 1953

July 7, 53  Tues eve 530

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I got to Fresno about 8 am.  We stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico to refuel.  I got a bus to Alameda and reported in.  I was about the 3rd out of the nine to get here.  There are six of us here now.  I don't know much except that we will have classes from 8 to 4 and our nights and weekends will be free.  There will just be the nine of us to go through the school.  This is a nice place here.  A lot different from an army camp.  We stay in a nice building and eat all we want.  I haven't done anything all day.  I took a nap this afternoon.

I sure did enjoy myself while I was home.  I sure felt bad after I left last night.  But I feel better today.

One of the boys from Chicago said his plane stopped in KC and he drank coffee there.  It is funny we missed him.

About all there is here are sailors.  We eat with them and sleep in the same building with them.  I haven't seen any other soldiers around here.  It is right on the bay and water is almost all around us.  A lot of planes fly off from here.  I came over the bay bridge again.  It sure brought back memories.  It looks about the same.

It was cloudy here  this morning and kind of cold.  I will try and find some picture postcards of this place and send you.

I don't know if I will be able to come home or not when I finish here.  I would like to but I will have to get a hop in order to get home.   I will probably have 6 or 7 days when I leave here.

Well don't know much more to say.  I will write you again tomorrow.  I haven't got my address yet but you can write me at this address for awhile.  I'll let you know my new one as soon as I can.

Love, Ted
(note to blog reader:  This letter was sent from WP Naval Air Base, Alameda, California.)

Friday, February 13, 2015

June 20, 1953

June 20, Saturday
Dear Mom and Dad
I thought I would drop you a line and let you know what happened.  About 20 of us got Signal Crops at Ft Mammoth, New Jersey.  I didn’t have to be there until July 14 and we were going to leave here today.  The other boys left on the charted plane a little before noon.  It would have given me 24 days at home and I would be in the states for 16 or more weeks.  I got $203.04 for travel pay.  
When we went to pick up our orders they didn’t have any for us.  Nine of us altogether.  We all knew what had happened then.  The deal on the special school came through.  They said it would be 3 or 4 days before our orders came through.  I was sure sick.  I had wanted the other so bad.  
About 20 guys got orders for Korea, 20 for Alaska, 10 for Austin, some sort of medical corps and the rest for Europe and Leadership school.. I would have been home tonight sometime.  
After everyone left our company commander told us that our orders were for Alameda, California naval station and we were cleared for secret work.  We will be in Alameda for 3 weeks and then we go to Camp Stoneman, California to go to Korea.  I don’t know what the school is or anything.  I get my orders starting Tues 23 June to the 7th of July.  I will have 14 days.  So I should be home Tues sometime.  
I don’t feel as bad now as I did for awhile.  I was counting on being home Father’s Day.
We finished up Thur and was graduated Thur evening.  I was one of the outstanding soldiers of the cycle.  All the squad leaders got to go up before LTC Pruitt and shake his hand and salute and get their diploma from here.  I was the only one that was not a squad leader to go up.  I was the third one to go up.  I was sure surprised.
I had guard duty Wed night.  I didn’t write because I thought I would be home by now.  Well not much more to say.  I’ll be home soon and will sure be glad.  
All my love, Ted
PS  I got a pass today at noon till tomorrow.  I might be able to get away mon night I hope.  Everything ok at this end.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

June 14, 1953

Sunday June 14, 1953

Dear Folks

How is everything at home?  Everything is fine here.  I got the two money orders you sent.  I think that should be enough.

We got a pass Sat evening.  Martin and I went to Paso Robles hitching hiking and decided to keep going south to some other towns just to see what they were like.  The MPs picked us up and gave us a lift to where ever we wanted to go.  They said they were going to Santa Barbara so we just went with them.  We got there about .  It is a pretty nice town.  It is right on the coast.  When we decided to return to camp we got a ride with a Marine officer as far as Paso Robles.

Well I just have four more days of training.  I sure will be glad to get home.  I don’t guess you will be getting many more letters from me here.  I will be home almost before they get there.  I guess you wont send to many more letters either.  I might not get them.

I hope I get my orders this next Thur or the weekend.  If I don’t I may have to stay here at Roberts for a few weeks or till they come.  I haven’t heard anything about that school yet.  It may hold me up or something.

Did I tell you they are going to close Camp Roberts?  They are going to completely close it down by the first of the year.  It will take them 6 months to close it.  I can’t see why they are.

I got a high rating in the field in a Field Forces inspection a few weeks ago.

Will close for now.  I’ll try to write you again before long.
Love, Ted