The Second World War is affecting the entire world. In rural upstate New York, a young couple's life changes when the US starts implementing the draft. He is sent to a navy ship; she is left at home to take care of their 8-year-old son alone. Nearly...
Well here's the first letter it is now 10 minutes to Eight P.M. after a darn tough day. I never saw such a day it was more tiring than the physical at Albany last month. We arrived at this navy station at 10:25 this morning and was given a medical exam first and then finger printed. Then it was sit + wait and or stand when you got tired of one you did the other. Next came making out allotments and Leroy Cornwell from Seven Lake made out mine and we had quite a chat while he was making it out.
They told me you would receive the first check in 2 or 3 weeks and possible much sooner as everything was checked. They also told me my pay comes when I got my furlough after 4 or 5 weeks boot and I got 50 bucks. After that I'll get 28 each month until advanced. Next we signed our signature to about a hundred papers and sat and walked more. We had a good dinner at 12 oclock noon. It was baked fish, mashed potatoes, peas +carrots, rolls, chocolate pie and coffee on the navy. At supper we could use our supper checks or go wherever we want and buy our lunch and use the ticket for sandwiches to eat on our way to sampson in the morning. We will have breakfast at 4:15am or 4:30 then we head for sampson.
The officer said that tomorrow would be the worst day of your life in the Navy. 3 shots + vaccinations tomorrow. We stay at the Y.M.C.A tonight and see a cowboy picture in the Y theatre. Well I hope you both make it out O.K. and I'll write everyday possible and I guess I'll be able to each day or night unless some time I draw dog watch or Pot + Pan rub. The officers told us to write our families as often as we had time and he said you'll be able to find time most any day.
Well Love + Kisses and I'm thinking of you both every minute and hope that training is over very quickly.
Johnny
Apr. 10, 1944
Dearest Ella Mae + Johnny
Well how are you both doing. I hope you are getting along O.K. I'll be expecting a letter from you soon. I just finished my laundry and tied it up to dry. I seem to be doing O.K. as a sailor and hope I don't make any mistakes because boy you really get detail if you don't behave. We have a wonderful C.P.O his name is Silverman and he's a real guy. We have a swell bunch of fellows but Benjamin and Lenard from Amster didn't land in our outfit. I know where they are as yet.
Tomorrow we get the short G.I haircut tomorrow morning. We have 4 more shots to take. The last 3 haven't bothered me very much and I wasn't sick at all. We got swell meal 3 times each day. Sunday noon we had turkey.
This is an awful big place. It would take an awful long time to see it all. There are only 70,000 sailors here. A small crowd and boy do they feed them fast. Boy what an awful lot of clothes I have boy there are really is plenty if you wash everything to keep it clean.
Well Johnny how is school going. Are you a good boy with Gramma and Mother. How is Nuna is she out of the hospital yet. How did you make out Easter Sunday. I bet you looked swell. Wait till you see Daddy in a blue dress uniform in 4 or 5 weeks. If our company goes through training fast we will be home sooner if they don't we will be held up a week or so. We are all working for an early furlough.
Well I'll have to sign off and take a shower + shave before bed check. I'll write again soon. I think now I'll be able to write everyday except when I get dog watch which I get some day this week. If I get it early in the day I can still write.
Love to Both Johnny
(Example of the enlisted dress blue uniform)
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