Dear Folks:
Longhand isn’t my specialty anymore but maybe I can scratch out a letter if I use a little patience. Little to write about but maybe something will come up. Had a letter from Mrs. Carroll – said Duane might be taking a European trip. That situation over there doesn’t appeal to me. I can imagine that every time you hear of action in the Pacific you wonder if Dick and I are there but so far so good. Many ‘veterans’ can be seen in Honolulu with their bronze stars on their Asiatic-Pacific ribbons and the 7th Division with two – for Atter and Kwayelein.
Dick called up last nite and we will probably get together in a few days. We’re having a tough time getting the shells you wanted. The beach isn’t too accessible and where it is, many others have been there before. But we’re still looking and we’ll get them as reasonable facsimiles.
Pretty quiet and peaceful in the billet tonite – most of them are doing what I am – writing letters. Three of the fellows are married and one has a 22 month old son who he is itching to see. I can well imagine. The radio is the biggest morale builder in the evenings and we would be lost without it. Practically all the mainland programs are broadcast so we don’t miss much (in) that respect.
People over here really buy bonds. Hawaii’s quota was $15 millon and at the end of the campaign sold $32 million. Quite a record and earned them the best record in the US. Perhaps the people feel the war more having gone though the blitz. Quite an assortment of stories and almost humorous but tragic episodes about that morning of the December 7. The confusion and frustration that was going on everywhere must have been terrific. Downtown Honolulu has many contrasts. In one section are the big modern business houses and a few blocks away the Jap fish and fruit markets with their disagreeable odor. And all kinds of people on the streets. All the ‘kaaminas’ (old timers) talk with rapidity and an oriental twang. Newcomers are known as ‘malakinis’. The Hawaiian words might look hard to pronounce but actually they are very easy. All words end in vowels and all vowels are pronounced. I think the words and names are picturesque. A short time ago I had the opportunity to visit a part of the island more scarcely populated and saw some real scenery. Steep green hills came down to the sea and the heavy surf put a mysterious mist over the whole thing.
This is Friday nite and the time I should be devoting to polishing up for inspection. Had a letter from Gram today saying they had arrived and were getting ready to start work. I surely hope they will be happy. Now you will have to be something of an intermediary between me and them.
Well until the next time keep the Moss Manor in good shape and remember there’s no place I’d like to see so badly.
Love,
